THE DESPAIR of those locked up indefinitely in immigration detention centres will be the focus of a talk.

The event, which is taking place next month, is organised by the Verne Visitors Group, a volunteer organisation which organises visits for those held in detention at the Verne IRC on Portland.

One speaker will be the Reverend Dr Giles Fraser, who made headlines after writing an article for a national newspaper about the life of those detained at the Verne.

He is the former Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral and also known for his support of the Occupy London protest, as a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Moral Maze and for writing the Guardian column ‘Loose Canon’.

Dr Fraser will talk about his thoughts on the UK’s immigration detention system and his first-hand experience of dealing with the realities of its impact on people’s lives. 

The other speaker at the event is Andrew Wilson, chair of the trustees of the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID). He is himself a volunteer visitor at Morton Hall IRC, Lincolnshire, and will provide insights into the background of immigration detention and the role of visitors. Excerpts from the film ‘Hidden Stories’, produced by AVID, giving voice to people who were released from detention, will also be shown.

Chair of the local Verne Visitors Group, Dr Charles Campion Smith, said: “Many local people are not aware of what is happening on our doorstep. Over five hundred men, many of whom have committed no offence, are detained behind razor wire in this former prison.” 

He added: “Their detention is indefinite, they do not know if and when they will be released and allowed to return to their families or if they will be deported. Whilst people are well-cared for, many are hundreds of miles away from friends and family. They feel very isolated and forgotten by society. The uncertainty of what lies ahead causes huge distress and despair, and this frequently has a negative effect on mental health.”

All are welcome to attend the event, which takes place on Friday, March 10 at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester from 7.30pm. Admission is free.

For more information, visit www.vernevisitors.org.uk