Criminalisation of people crossing The Channel in small boats-UK
United Kingdom
Cover image drawn by Ibrahim (name changed) from Sudan.
What is the problem?
In June 2022, the Nationality and Borders Act introduced the offence of ‘illegal arrival’, meaning that anyone arriving irregularly into the UK in order to seek safety or a better life could be criminalised. It also increased the scope of the crime of ‘facilitation’ (including boat driving). The maximum sentences for both offences were increased to 4 years for ‘arrival’ and life imprisonment for ‘facilitation’.
A few months later, Captain Support and Humans for Rights Network started to identify and support people who were being imprisoned for their ‘arrival’ on ‘small boats’ across the Channel.
As of February 2024, Captain Support and Humans for Rights Network have been in touch with 175 people who have been charged, and imprisoned under criminal law, either for arriving or for ‘facilitating the arrival of others’ through piloting the dinghy they travelled in. This number is increasing all the time.
Among those supported are 10 age disputed children and 5 children who have had their ages accepted.
What is Captain Support?
Captain Support UK is a grassroots organisation which works in solidarity with all people criminalised for crossing borders or facilitating freedom of movement. The collective provides practical solidarity to people in prison and post-release as well as campaigning for systemic change against criminalisation of migration in the UK, alongside Captain Support International.
What is Humans for Rights Network?
For humans, regardless of their Nationality, status, or migration journey, to be empowered to make informed decisions to manage the risk & harm they are exposed to by closed border regimes. For humans to have the means to bear witness when their rights are abused & for those voices to be amplified. For a UK that provides a lawful, compassionate asylum & Immigration system rooted in care & respect for people forced to migrate.
HfRN is a need led Human Rights organisation, established to facilitate safety & dignity for people forced to migrate, to advocate for a rights-based approach to the movement of people throughout Northern Europe, and to represent humans whose rights are violated. We are led and informed by the Migrants we work with and collaborate to address mistreatment and challenge systemic and structural racism & discrimination and the harmful impact of these.
What will we do with your money?
HfRN will use any donations to provide specialist casework support to unaccompanied children criminalised under these offences.
Captain Support – We send £30 per month to each person we’re in touch with in prison. This money usually goes directly to the individual in prison so that they are able to buy food and other supplies. It is also used to purchase and deliver clothes to people in prison. Money also goes towards supporting travel to social visits.
Please donate if you can and help us to stand in solidarity with all people who seek freedom of movement and to resist the combined violence of the UK border regime, racist ‘justice’ system and prison industrial complex
You can read more about Captain Support, the criminalisation of people on the move and the unjust conviction of Ibrahima Bah here.
You can read more about Humans for Rights Network and our work with children incarcerated in adult prisons here.
Further information on this issue can be found here.
Anonymous
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$20,000.00
Funding Goal -
$0.00
Funds Raised -
0
Days to go -
Campaign Never Ends
Campaign End Method
Product Description
United Kingdom
Cover image drawn by Ibrahim (name changed) from Sudan.
What is the problem?
In June 2022, the Nationality and Borders Act introduced the offence of ‘illegal arrival’, meaning that anyone arriving irregularly into the UK in order to seek safety or a better life could be criminalised. It also increased the scope of the crime of ‘facilitation’ (including boat driving). The maximum sentences for both offences were increased to 4 years for ‘arrival’ and life imprisonment for ‘facilitation’.
A few months later, Captain Support and Humans for Rights Network started to identify and support people who were being imprisoned for their ‘arrival’ on ‘small boats’ across the Channel.
As of February 2024, Captain Support and Humans for Rights Network have been in touch with 175 people who have been charged, and imprisoned under criminal law, either for arriving or for ‘facilitating the arrival of others’ through piloting the dinghy they travelled in. This number is increasing all the time.
Among those supported are 10 age disputed children and 5 children who have had their ages accepted.
What is Captain Support?
Captain Support UK is a grassroots organisation which works in solidarity with all people criminalised for crossing borders or facilitating freedom of movement. The collective provides practical solidarity to people in prison and post-release as well as campaigning for systemic change against criminalisation of migration in the UK, alongside Captain Support International.
What is Humans for Rights Network?
For humans, regardless of their Nationality, status, or migration journey, to be empowered to make informed decisions to manage the risk & harm they are exposed to by closed border regimes. For humans to have the means to bear witness when their rights are abused & for those voices to be amplified. For a UK that provides a lawful, compassionate asylum & Immigration system rooted in care & respect for people forced to migrate.
HfRN is a need led Human Rights organisation, established to facilitate safety & dignity for people forced to migrate, to advocate for a rights-based approach to the movement of people throughout Northern Europe, and to represent humans whose rights are violated. We are led and informed by the Migrants we work with and collaborate to address mistreatment and challenge systemic and structural racism & discrimination and the harmful impact of these.
What will we do with your money?
HfRN will use any donations to provide specialist casework support to unaccompanied children criminalised under these offences.
Captain Support – We send £30 per month to each person we’re in touch with in prison. This money usually goes directly to the individual in prison so that they are able to buy food and other supplies. It is also used to purchase and deliver clothes to people in prison. Money also goes towards supporting travel to social visits.
Please donate if you can and help us to stand in solidarity with all people who seek freedom of movement and to resist the combined violence of the UK border regime, racist ‘justice’ system and prison industrial complex
You can read more about Captain Support, the criminalisation of people on the move and the unjust conviction of Ibrahima Bah here.
You can read more about Humans for Rights Network and our work with children incarcerated in adult prisons here.
Further information on this issue can be found here.
Anonymous
| ID | Name | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1244 | Listing Agent | [email protected] | |
| 1215 | Listing Agent | [email protected] |
