If you want to visit someone who is in detention, you need to take photo ID or your drivers license, and a utility bill with your name and address. Some detention centres only allow visitors at certain times, and require you to book an appointment at least 24 hours before arrival.
See the UKBA website for more details on visiting hours, directions and other information
There are a number of groups who make make regular visits to detention centres. The phone numbers for these groups can be found in the image below. If you have a friend who is detained but you cannot visit them yourself, you may be able to find someone who can pass on messages for you.
You will need to have some details of the person who is detained – Full name, Date of Birth, Home Office Reference number, Detention centre and the number or letter for their wing/room/bed.
Also you may want to get in touch with AVID (The association of visitors to immigration detainees)
Immigration Removal Centres and Short Term Holding Centres
Brook House IRC
Perimeter Road South
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick
West Sussex
RH6 0PQ
Tel: 01293 566500
Tel: 01293 566559 (to arrange visits)
For Brook House – Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group click here
Campsfield House IRC
Langford Lane
Kidlington
Oxfordshire
OX5 1RE
Tel: 01865 233600
Fax: 01865 233723
For Campsfield – Asylum Welcome visitors group click here
Colnbrook IRC
Colnbrook by Pass
Harmondsworth
West Drayton
UB7 0FX
Tel: 020 8607 5200
Fax: 020 8607 5383
For Colnbrook
Detention Action visitors group click here
Jesuit Refugee Service detention outreach click here
Dover IRC
The Citadel
Western Heights
Dover
Kent
CT17 9DR
Tel: 01304 246400
Fax: 01304 246401
For Dover Visitor Group click here
Dungavel House IRC
Strathaven
South Lanarkshire
ML10 6RF
Phone detainees: 01698 395000
Phone Immigration: 01698 395063
Fax: 01698 395079
For Dungavel – Scottish Detainee Visitors group click here
Haslar IRC
2 Dolphin Way
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 2AW
Tel: 023 9260 4000
Fax: 023 9260 4001
For Haslar visitors group click here
Harmondsworth IRC
Colnbrook by Pass
Harmondsworth
West Drayton
UB7 0HB
Phone: 020 8283 3850
Fax: 020 8283 3851
For Harmondsworth
Detention Action visitors group click here
Jesuit Refugee Service detention outreach click here
Lindholme IRC
Bawtry Road
Hatfield Woodhouse
Nr Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN7 6EE
Tel: 01302 524700
Fax: 01302 524620
Doncaster AVID visit Lindholme IRC, near Doncaster
Oakington IRC
Oakington Barracks
Longstanton
Cambridgeshire
CB4 5EJ
Tel: 01954 783000
Fax: 01954 789699
Tinsley House IRC
Perimeter Road South
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick
West Sussex
RH6 0PQ
Tel: 01293 434800
Fax: 01293 434846
For Tinsley House – Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group click here
Yarl’s Wood IRC
Twinwoods Road
Clapham
Bedfordshire
MK41 6HL
Main switchboard: 01234 821000
Fax numbers Centre: 01234 821096
For Yarlswood
Yarlswood Befrienders Group click here
SOAS Detainee Support group click here
UK Border Agency: 01234 271349
Penine House Manchester STHC
Short Term Holding Centre
1506-1510
Terminal 2
Manchester Airport
M90 4AG
Tel: 0161 489 5702
Fax: 0161 489 5701
Train from Manchester Piccadilly
every 15/20 minutes to airport.
Airport is about 12 miles from city centre
For Manchester – MIDST (Manchester Immigration Detainee Support Team) click here
Harwich STHC
Harwich Immigration Short Term Holding centre
Parkstone Quay
Harwich
Phone: 01255 252106
Heathrow Airport
Queens buildings STHC
Heathrow Airport
Tel: 020-8564-9726 or 020-8564-9727
Gatwick Airport STHC
North Terminal
Tel: 01293 507803
South Terminal
Tel: 01293 502640
