guide to being a cautioner in the scottish immigration...
TRANSCRIPT
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ImmigrationBailObservationProjectScotlandAugust2016
GUIDETOBEINGACAUTIONERINTHE
SCOTTISHIMMIGRATIONBAILPROCESS
TheCreationofthisGuide
TheImmigrationBailObservationProjectScotland
TheImmigrationBailObservationProjectScotland(IBOPS)isacollaborativeinitiativebetweenstaffattheUniversityofGlasgow,andtheUniversity’sstudent-runLawinActionGroup,withassistancefromtheGlasgowRefugeeAsylumandMigrationNetwork(GRAMNet)andDetentionForumScotland.IthasreceivedfundingfromtheAHRCResearchingMultilinguallyProject.IBOPS’aimistoconductthefirstcomprehensiveandsystematicstudyoftheimmigrationbailprocessinScotland.
BetweenOctoberandDecember2015,10trainedIBOPSvolunteersobservedatotalof89bailhearingsattheFirstTierTribunal(ImmigrationandAsylumChamber)inGlasgow.Thevolunteerscollecteddataonawidevarietyoffeaturesoftheprocess.
BetweenDecember2015andMarch2016thisdatawascollatedandanalysedbyIBOPSstaffandthevolunteers.InApril2016itwasdecidedthattwoofthe10volunteerswouldreceivefundingfromtheUniversityofGlasgowSettlement’sFindaSolutionProjecttocontinuetheworkofIBOPSbetweenJuneandAugust2016underthesupervisionofIBOPSstaffmembers.
IBOPSdataindicatedthatcautionersplayedacentral,andoftendecisiveroleinScottishimmigrationbailhearings.Despitethis,andthefactthatcautionersarerequiredtoinvestsignificanttimeandmoneyintothebailprocess,IBOPSobserversoftennotedthatcautionersappearedunclearanduncertainoftheprocess.Asaconsequence,itwasdecidedthatIBOPSwouldproduceacomprehensiveguidetoinformcautioner’softheirrole,rightsandobligationsintheScottishbailprocess.
ThisguidehasbeenwrittenbyDanielFergusonandSusannahPaul.Anyerrorsandomissionsaretheresponsibilityoftheauthorsalone.
Acknowledgements
Theauthorswouldliketoacknowledgetheadvice,inputandsupportgivenbySarahCraig,MariaFletcher,AnnaBeesley,KateAlexander,ShirleyGillan,Lizanne
McKerrellandCarlMacpherson
ThisworkhasbeenfundedbyTheUniversityofGlasgowSettlementandtheAHRCResearchingMultilinguallyNetworkProject
IntroductiontothisGuideHowthisGuideWorks
ThisguideisdesignedforcautionersintheScottishimmigrationbailprocess.Ifyouareconsideringwhethertobeacautioner,orifyouhavedecidedtobeone,thenthisguidewillprovideyouwithanoverviewofthewholeprocess.Theguideissplitintofourparts:
Part1istitled‘IntroductiontoImmigrationDetentionandBail’.Inthissectionwewillexplaintheconceptsofimmigrationbailandimmigrationdetention.Wewilllookatwhypeoplemightfindthemselvesindetention,whytheymaywanttoreceivebail,andhowtheygoaboutapplyingforbail.Wewillalsoexplainwhatitmeanstobeacautioner,andwhyhavingacautionerissoimportantforpeopleapplyingforbail.
Part2istitled‘BailApplicationandPreparingfortheBailHearing’.Inordertoreceivebailpersonmustapplytoajudgeandattendabailhearing.Thissectionwilltakeyouthroughtheapplicationprocessandwillexplainwhatsupportyou,asacautioner,canoffertothepersonapplyingforbail.Asacautioner,youwilltakepartinthebailhearing,andthissectionwillsetoutsomethingsyoumightwanttothinkaboutinadvanceofthehearing.
Part3istitled‘TheBailHearing’.Thissectionwilltakeyouthroughwhathappensonthedayofthehearingitself.ItwilltellyouhowtogettotheTribunal,whatwillhappeninthehearing,howlongtheprocesswilltake,andmuchmore.
Part4istitled‘AftertheBailHearing’.Ifthejudgedecidestograntbail,itisthenthatyourobligationsasacautionerwillbegin.Thissectionwilltakeyouthroughwhattheseobligationsare.Itwillalsopointoutsomethingsthatcangowrongforyouorforthepersononbail.Itwillguideyouonwhatyoushoulddoifthesethingshappen.
Thisguideissplitintovariousheadings,eachofwhicharequestionsthatyoumighthaveaboutbeingacautioner.TheyarelistedintheTableofContentsbelow,soifthereisaspecificissuethatyouwanttoknowabout,thenyoucanjumpstraighttotheappropriatesection.
ThereareshortsummaryboxesattheendofeachPart,andatableofusefullinksattheendoftheguide.
ImportantNotice:TheImmigrationAct2016
Immigrationlawisknownforchangingonaregularbasis,andthisistrueforthelawsaroundimmigrationbail.Thisguideexplainshowthelawoperatesasof31stAugust2016.
TheImmigrationAct2016issettochangethebailprocessinanumberofways.Thesechangeswillcomeintoeffectoverthenextyear.Thisguidewilldrawattentiontosomeofthekeychangesthatwillaffecttheroleofacautioner.
TableofContents
TheCreationofthisGuide....................................................................................................
Part1: IntroductiontoImmigrationDetention&Bail...............................................11.1 WhatisImmigrationDetention?....................................................................................1
1.2 WhatisImmigrationBail?...............................................................................................1
1.3 Whocanapplyforbail?..................................................................................................2
1.4 Howcanapersonapplyforbail?...................................................................................3
1.5 WhatisaCautioner?.......................................................................................................4
Part2: BailApplicationandPreparingfortheHearing.............................................52.1 HowmuchmoneyshouldIofferasbailbond?..............................................................6
2.2 ShouldIoffermyhouseasabailaddress?....................................................................6
2.3 HowshouldIprepareforthehearing?...........................................................................8
Part3: TheBailHearing....................................................................................................103.1 Wherewillthebailhearingtakeplace?.......................................................................11
3.2 WhatwillhappenwhenIgettotheTribunal?.............................................................11
3.3 WhatfacilitiesarethereattheTribunal?....................................................................12
3.4 WhathappensintheBailHearing?..............................................................................12
Part4: AftertheBailHearing..........................................................................................164.1 Whathappensifbailisrefused?..................................................................................16
4.2 Whathappensifbailisgranted?..................................................................................16
4.3 BailConditionsandLifeonBail....................................................................................17
4.4 WhatdoIdoifthingsgowrong?..................................................................................19
UsefulLinks...........................................................................................................................23
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Part1: IntroductiontoImmigrationDetention&Bail
1.1 WhatisImmigrationDetention?
ImmigrationdetentionoccurswhereanasylumseekerormigrantintheUKistakenintocustodybytheHomeOffice.PeopleinimmigrationdetentionarenormallyheldinoneofanumberofImmigrationRemovalCentresor,sometimes,inshorttermholdingfacility.Therearetwobroadreasonswhyapersonmightbeheldinimmigrationdetention:
1) TheyhaveenteredtheUKwithoutpermission,andtheHomeOfficeisdecidingwhetherornottheyshouldbeallowedtostay.
2) TheHomeOfficebelievesthattheydonothavearighttobeintheUKandareplanningtoremovethemfromthecountry.
TheHomeOfficenormallydetainspeoplebecausetheyareconcernedthatiftheyaretemporarilyallowedtobefreeintheUK,theymay‘abscond’byrunningawayorhidingfromtheauthorities.TheysometimesdetainpeoplebecausetheyfeelthatallowingthemtobefreeintheUKwouldnotbeinthepublicinterest(e.g.peoplewithacriminalrecord).
ThereisnotimelimitondetentionintheUK,andpeoplecanbeheldincustodyforalongtimewhilsttheHomeOfficesprocessestheircase.
1.2 WhatisImmigrationBail?
Bailisthetemporaryreleaseofapersonfromimmigrationdetentionforaspecificperiodoftime.Bailisanalternativetodetention,andeventhoughthepersonisreleased,somerestrictionswillbeplacedonthemtosatisfytheHomeOffice’sconcernsaboutabsconding.Theserestrictionsarecalled‘bailconditions’.Therearetwocategoriesofbailconditions.The‘primarycondition’willsetthelengthofbail.Itwillsetoutwhenbailwillendandwhatthepersonreleasedonbailwillhavetodo.The‘secondaryconditions’canvary,butwillnormallyrestrictwherethepersonmustlivewhilsttheyareonbail,andwillalsorequirethemtoregularlyreporttoalocalHomeOfficeReportingCentre.Followingthebailconditionsisanimportantpartofaperson’srelease.Iftheybreachtheirconditionstheycanbetakenbackintodetentionandcanloseasumofmoneythattheywillnormallyhavetodepositbeforetheyarereleased.1
1Formoreon‘BailConditions’seePart4.3(below).
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ItisimportanttounderstandthatbaildoesnotgiveapersonalegalrighttoremainintheUK.BailissimplyatemporaryreleasefromdetentionwhilsttheHomeOfficedecideshowtohandletheperson’scase.IftheHomeOfficedecidestoremoveapersonandtherearenomorelegalbarriersstoppingthem,thenapersononbailcanbere-detainedandremoved.
However,bailisveryusefulbecauseitmeansthatapersondoesnothavetowaitindetentionforalongtimewhilstdecisionsaboutthemaremade.
1.3 Whocanapplyforbail?
AnybodythatisheldinimmigrationdetentioncanapplyforbailiftheyhavebeenintheUKfor7daysormore.2Ifapersonhastheirbailapplicationrefused,theycannotre-applyfor28daysunlessthereisachangeincircumstance.3
TheImmigrationAct2016willintroduceaprovisionforautomaticbailhearingsbeforetheTribunalforapersonindetentionfourmonthsafterthedateoftheirdetentionorfourmonthsafterthedateoftheirlastbailhearing.Theseautomaticbailhearingswillbearrangedevery4monthsinthesamewayforthedurationofaperson’sdetention.
LegalRepresentation
Apersonindetentiondoesnotneedalawyertoapplyforbailandcanapplybythemselvesiftheywish.However,immigrationlawandthebailprocessiscomplicatedandwithoutalawyerthepersonwouldhavetomaketheirargumentsontheirown.Inaddition,aswewillmentionbelowinPart1.4(below),thepersonindetentionwillnotnormallygettoattendthehearinginperson.Rather,theywillbekeptindetentionandwilltakepartinthehearingviaavideolink.IBOPShasobservedanumberofdifficultieswiththevideolinksystem,includingproblemswithcommunication.Ifanapplicanthasalawyer,thentheywillbeabletomakethebestargumentsforthemandpresenttheminpersonatthehearing.Researchhasshownthatthechancesofbailbeinggrantedarehigherifanapplicantisrepresentedbyalawyer.4
Thepersonindetentionmightalreadyhavealawyerwhoisworkingontheirimmigrationorasylumappeal,inwhichcasetheycanaskthemtoworkontheirbailapplication.Ifthepersondoesnothavealawyer,thentheyshouldbeabletoaccessonefromtheImmigrationRemovalCentre.AnumberoflawyersholdshortweeklyclinicsattheCentres,andpeopleindetention
2Para22(1B)ofSchedule2totheImmigrationAct1971.3Para25(2)ofSchedule2totheImmigrationAct1971.4IBOPSdatashowsthatthesuccessrateofanon-representedapplicanttobe33%(1outof3),comparedto36%forrepresentedapplicants(21outof59).However,theseresultsareinfluencedbythesamplesizeofnon-representedapplicants.AlargerstudyinEnglandfoundthesuccessratesofnon-representedapplicantstobe10%(7outof68)comparedto48%ofrepresentedapplicants(69outof145)(StillaTravesty:JusticeintheImmigrationBailHearings[2011])
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canalsoaccesstheircontactinformation.Iftheymeettheeligibilitytest,thepersonwillbeabletoaccessLegalAidsothattheydonotneedtopaythelawyer’scoststhemselves.
1.4 Howcanapersonapplyforbail?
ApplyingtotheImmigrationTribunal
Inordertogetbail,apersonindetentionwillneedtoapplytotheFirstTierTribunal(ImmigrationandAsylumChamber).ThisisdonebyfillingoutaFormB1thatcanbeaccessedonline5orintheImmigrationRemovalCentres.Theywillhavetoprovidesomebasicpersonalinformation,someinformationabouttheircurrentlegalsituation,informationabouthowmuchmoneytheywilldeposit,andtheirargumentsforwhytheyshouldbegrantedbail.
OncetheTribunalreceivestheapplication,itwillsetadateforabailhearing.Thedaybeforethehearing,theHomeOfficehavetoprovideawrittenbailsummarythatliststhereasonswhytheythinkbailshouldberefused.TheywillsendacopytotheTribunalandtothepersonindetentionortheirlegalrepresentative.Thebailsummarywillnormallyfocusontheimmigrationhistoryoftheapplicantandwillarguethattheycannotbetrustedtofollowthebailconditionsiftheyarereleased.
AtthehearingtheapplicantandtheHomeOfficewillpresenttheirargumentstoajudgeastowhetherornotbailshouldbegranted.Itisveryunusualfortheapplicanttoactuallybeatthebailhearing.TheywillnormallybekeptintheImmigrationRemovalCentre.Televisionscreens,microphonesandcameraswillbesetupsothattheycantakepartinthehearingviaavideolink.Thelegalrepresentativefortheapplicant,iftheyhaveone,willappearinpersonatthehearingtoargueontheirbehalf.Asthelegalrepresentativewillonlybegiventhebailhearingontheafternoonbeforethehearing,thebailapplicantwillbegivenaround10minutestotalkwiththemviathevideolinkbeforethehearing.
Thejudgewilllistentothearguments,askquestionsandwilldecideifbailshouldbegranted.Theywilldothisbybalancingtheperson’srighttolibertyagainsttheriskofthemabsconding.Theywillconsiderwhatbailconditionscanbeputinplacetominimizetheriskofabscondingandwhethertheapplicantcanbetrustedtocomplywiththem.Iftheyarepersuadedthattheapplicant,ifreleased,willliveataspecifiedaddress,reporttotheHomeOfficewhenasked,andcomplywithanyotherconditions,thentheyarelikelytograntbail.
IftheHomeOfficehavealreadymaderemovalordersforaperson,andthedateoftheirremovalissetforwithin14daysofthebailhearing,theHomeOfficerepresentativewillhavetoconsenttotheapplicantbeingreleased.Inthesecases,evenifthejudgedecidestogrant
5http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/GetForm.do?court_forms_id=2744
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bail,thepersonwillcontinuetobedetainediftheHomeOfficedonotconsent.6Thesecasesonlyoccurrarely(IBOPSobservedonly1suchcasein89observations).
1.5 WhatisaCautioner?
TheRoleoftheCautioner
TohelppersuadetheTribunaljudgethattheywillfollowthebailconditions,apersonapplyingforbailcanaskafriendorfamilymembertobetheir‘cautioner’(called‘surety’inEngland).Acautionerisapersonwho,ifbailisgranted,depositsasumofmoney(called‘bailbond’)withtheTribunal*(Seeimportantnotebelowat1.5.1concerningchangesinthisprocedure)andundertakestoencouragethepersonreleasedonbailtocomplywiththeirbailconditions.Thecautionermaylosethebailbondifthepersonfailstocomplywithcertainconditions(seePart4.4).Apersoninimmigrationdetentionmay,atsomepoint,haveeitherknowinglyorunknowinglyfailedtofollowimmigrationlaws.Thiscansometimesmakeitdifficultforthemtopersuadethejudgethattheywillfollowtheconditions.Havingacautionerwhopromisestoencouragethemtocomplycan,therefore,beveryuseful.IBOPSresearchhasshownthatapplicantswithcautionersarenearlytwiceaslikelytobegrantedbailthanapplicantswithout(41%asagainst22%).
1.5.1 ImmigrationAct2016TheImmigrationAct2016bringssignificantchangestothisareaoflawinScotland.WheninforceSchedule10willstoptheTribunalinScotlandfromtakingdepositsofbailmoneyatthetimewhenbailisgranted.Insteadthetribunalcanimposeafinancialobligation,oranundertakingtopay.Theuseofafinancialobligationwillbediscretionaryandithasbeensuggestedthatimposingafinancialobligationwillbelessfrequentlyusedinfuturethancautioniscurrently.
WhocanbeaCautioner?
AnyonethatislegallyintheUKcanbeacautioner.However,inordertobeaneffectivecautioneryouwillneedtopersuadetheTribunalthatyouareabletoexercisesomeinfluenceoverthebailapplicantandthatyouwillencouragethemtocomplywiththeirbailconditions.Todothisyouwillneedtoshowthatyouhaveapre-existingrelationshipwiththem.Itishelpfulifyouhaveahomeaddress,somesavingsorregularincome,andnopastcriminalconvictions.
CostoftheBailBond
6Para22(4)ofSchedule2totheImmigrationAct1971.
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Summary:“Ihavebeenaskedtobeacautioner.Whatdoesthismean?”
• SomeoneyouknowisbeingheldinimmigrationdetentionbecausetheHomeOfficeareprocessingtheirentryorremoval.
• TheywanttobetemporarilyreleasedfromdetentionwhilsttheHomeOfficemaketheirdecisions.
• TheyhaveappliedforbailtoaTribunaljudgewhowillconsiderwhethertheriskofthemabscondingcanjustifytheirlossoffreedom.
• TheTribunaljudgewilldecideifthereisanalternativetodetention,andwhethertheriskofabscondingcanbeminimisedbysettingconditionsthatthepersonwillhavetofollowiftheyarereleased.
• Theconditionsaresplitinto‘primaryconditions’(whichoutlinewhathappenswhenbailends)and‘secondaryconditions’(whichrestrictwherethepersonlivesandhowtheyshouldkeepincontactwiththeHomeOffice).
• ThepersonisaskingyoutohelpthempersuadetheTribunalthattheywillfollowtheseconditions.
• Ifyoudecidetohelpthem,youwillneedtodepositasignificantsumofmoneywiththeTribunal.Youmightlosethismoneyifthepersonreleasedonbailabscondsorfailstofollowtheirprimarycondition.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)
Thereisnosetamountthatacautionerhastopayforthebailbond.Thepurposeofthebailbondistogiveyouanincentivetomakesurethatthepersononbaildoesnotabscond.Therefore,themoneyyoupayneedstobeanamountthatyouwouldnotwanttolose.IBOPSdatashowsthattheamountmostcommonlyofferedinScottishbailhearingswas£1000.
Itisimportanttorememberthatbailbondscanbekeptforalongperiodoftime.Youneedtothinkcarefullyaboutwhetheryoucanlivewithoutthemoneyyouareoffering.TheTribunaljudgemayrejectthemoneythatyouhaveofferediftheybelievethatyouwouldnotbeabletosupportyourselfandyourfamilywithoutit.
Atthebailhearingyoumayneedtoshowbankstatementsorpayslipstoprovetothejudgethatyouhavethemoneyandthatitisyourown.Youmightbeaskedquestionsaboutwherethemoneyhascomefrom.Youmightalsobeaskedquestionsaboutyourincome,anybenefitsyoureceive,andyourlivingarrangements.
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Part2: BailApplicationandPreparingfortheHearing
2.1 HowmuchmoneyshouldIofferasbailbond?
WhenapersonindetentionfillsouttheFormB1toapplyforbail,theywillneedtoputdownhowmuchmoneyyouarewillingtoofferasacautioner.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)Aswementionedabove,thereisnosetamountsoyouwillneedtofindabalancebetweenasumofmoneythatyouwouldnotliketoloseandasumofmoneyyoucanaffordtolivewithoutforalongtime(IBOPSdatashowsthat£1000isthemostcommonamountoffered).
Apersonapplyingforbailcanaskmorethanonepersontobeacautioner.Iftheyhavelotsoffriendsorfamilymemberswhoarewillingtohelp,thentheycanaskeachofthemtooffersomemoneyasbailbond.Differentpeoplecanofferdifferentamountsdependingonhowmuchtheyhave.Youshouldalwaysthinkaboutyourownsituationandnotcompareyourselftoothercautioners.
Ifthebailapplicanthasalegalrepresentative,thentheyshouldbeabletogiveyouadviceonhowmuchyoushouldoffer.ChangingthesumyouhaveofferedcancauseproblemsattheTribunal,soitisimportanttotryandgetitrightinthefirstplace.
2.2 ShouldIoffermyhouseasabailaddress?
BailAddresses
IftheTribunaljudgedecidestoreleaseapersononbail,theywillsetaconditionthatthepersonhastoliveataspecificaddress.Thisiscalledthe‘bailaddress’.ThebailaddressisimportantbecauseithelpstheHomeOfficekeeptrackofaperson.WhenthepersonisapplyingforbailtheywillhavetoincludeaproposedbailaddressintheFormB1.
WhoCanProvidetheBailAddress?
Ifthepersonapplyingforbailownsorrentsahouse,thentheycanputthisdownasthebailaddress.Iftheydonotownahouse,thentheywillhavetorelyonsomeoneelsetoprovideitforthem.Astheircautioner,youcanprovidethebailaddress,butyoudonothaveto.WhilstprovidingthebailaddressyourselfwillhelpyouinpersuadingtheTribunalthatyoucaninfluencethebailapplicant,thereareotheroptionsavailable.Thepersonapplyingforbailcanaskotherfriendsoffamilytoprovideabailaddressforthem.Iftheydonothaveanyonethat
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willprovidethebailaddress,theycanapplytotheHomeOfficewhowillprovidebasicaccommodationforthem.
WhatDoesProvidingtheBailAddressInvolve?
Providingyourhomeasthebailaddressisabigcommitment.Ifthepersonisreleasedonbail,theywillhavetoliveinyourhouseforaslongastheirbaillasts.Aswellasprovidingthemwitharoom,youmayalsoneedtopayfortheirdailylivingcosts(food,toiletries,clothesetc.).Iftheyhavepersonalsavings,theycanusethistohelp.Bailcanoftenlastforanumberofmonths,sotheTribunaljudgewillwanttoseeevidencethatyouhaveenoughroominyourhouseandaregularincomethatyoucanusetohelpsupportthepersonreleasedonbail.
WhataretheBenefitsofProvidingtheBailAddress?
Ifyouareafamilymemberofthepersonapplyingforbail,orafriendthattheyusedtolivewithbeforetheirdetention,thenyoumightwanttoprovidethebailaddresssothattheycancontinuetolivewithyouwhentheyarereleased.
Aswellasthis,providingthebailaddresswillmeanthatyouwillbeinday-to-daycontactwiththepersonreleasedonbail.Thisshouldhelpyouinyourroleasacautionerasyouwillbewellplacedtoencouragethemtofollowtheirbailconditionsandcheckiftheyaredoingso.AcommonconditionisthatapersononbailmustregularlyreporttotheHomeOffice.Ifthepersonislivingwithyou,youwillbeabletoremindthemtoreportonthedaysthattheyarerequiredto.ThisdailycontactwiththepersonreleasedonbailwillbeastrongargumentthatshouldhelpyoupersuadetheTribunalthatyouareasuitablecautioner.
OtherBailAddressOptions
Ifyoucannotprovidethebailaddress,thereareotherwaysthatapersonindetentioncangetone.
First,theycanaskanotherpersontoprovideitforthem.Iftheydothis,youneedtorememberthatyouarethecautioner,andmakingsurethepersonfollowstheirbailconditionsisstillyourresponsibility.Ifpossible,thebailaddressthatisprovidedshouldbeonethatisneartowhereyoulive.Ifthebailaddressprovidedbytheotherpersonisfaraway,itislikelythattheTribunalislikelytoquestionhowyouwillexerciseinfluenceoverthemandensurethattheyarefollowingtheirconditions.
Ifapersonapplyingforbailhasnoonetoprovideabailaddressforthem,theycanapplytotheHomeOfficefor‘Section4’support.7IftheycanshowtheHomeOfficethattheyhavenoonethattheycanstaywith,theywillreceivebasicaccommodationand£35perweekforfoodandtoiletries.8IfapersonisapplyingforSection4accommodation,theywillfirstbegrantedInitial
7Section4(1)(c)and4(10)oftheImmigrationandAsylumAct1999.8HouseofLordsLibraryNote:‘TheAzureCard’(November2014)(LLN2014/036)Availableat:http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/LLN-2014-036
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Accommodationtowhichtheywillbereleasedifbailisgranted.9TheHomeOfficewillthenarrangepermanentaccommodationforthem.ApersonindetentioncannotapplyforbailuntiltheyhavebeengrantedInitialAccommodation.Astudyhasshownthatitnormallytakes9daysfortheHomeOfficetoarrangeInitialAccommodation.10Italsofoundthatifbailisgranteditcanweeksbeforeapermanentaddressisarranged.Inaddition,thereisnoguaranteethattheaccommodationprovidedbytheHomeOfficewillbenearwhereyoulive.Aswementionedabove,thiscanleadtheTribunaltoquestionyourabilitytoinfluencetheapplicant.
ShouldIProvidetheBailAddress?
Aswehaveseen,providingthebailaddressyourselfwillprovideyouwithastrongargumenttopersuadetheTribunalthatyouareasuitablecautioner.Ifyoucanaffordtohavethepersonlivewithyouwhilstonbail,thenyoushouldseriouslyconsiderofferingthebailaddress.Butrememberthatyouarenotunderanyobligationtodothis,andthereareotheroptionsavailable.AlthoughpersuadingtheTribunaltograntbailmaybemoredifficultifthebailaddressisfaraway,itisimportanttorememberthatthisdoesnotmeanthatbailwillberefused.Providingthebailaddressisasignificantcommitmentandyoumustthinkcarefullybeforedecidingtoundertakeit.
2.3 HowshouldIprepareforthehearing?
QuestionstoPrepareFor
Whenyouattendthebailheadingyouwillnormallybeaskedsomequestionsbythebailapplicant’slawyer,theHomeOfficerepresentativeandthejudge(seePart3.5).Beforeyougotothehearing,itwouldbeusefulforyoutothinkaboutsomeanswerstothequestionsthatyoumightbeasked.Someofthequestionsthatyoucanbeaskedmightfeelintrusiveorharshanditisimportantthatyouareemotionallypreparedtoanswerthem.Forexample,youmaybeaskedin-depthquestionsaboutyourfinancialandlivingarrangements,andwhetheryoucanaffordtobeacautioner.
Astheroleofacautioneristomakesurethatthepersonreleasedonbailfollowstheirbailconditions,theTribunaljudgewillwanttoknowaboutthelevelofinfluenceyouareabletoexerciseovertheapplicant.Youwilllikelybeaskedquestionstoseehowyouwillinfluencethemandhowyouwillreacttocertainsituations.ItislikelythattheHomeOffice9Annex4toPresidentialGuidanceNoteNo.12012:‘BailGuidanceforJudgesPresidingOverImmigrationandAsylumHearings’10BailforImmigrationDetainees:‘Noplacetogo:delaysinHomeOfficeprovisionofSection4(1)(c)bailaccommodation’Availableat:http://www.biduk.org/new-bid-report-bail-address-delays-no-place-go-delays-home-office-provision-section-41c-bail
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representativewilltrytoshowthatyoucannotberelieduponasacautioner.Inordertopresentyourselfasasuitablecautioneryoushouldprepareanswerstoquestionsconcerning:
1) Whetheryouhaveanestablishedrelationshipwiththebailapplicant;2) Howyouwillkeepincontactwiththeapplicantiftheyarereleased;3) Examplesofhowyouhaveexercisedinfluenceoverthebailapplicantinthepast;4) Howyouwillrespondifthepersonreleasedonbailabsconds;5) Ifthebailapplicantfailedtofollowimmigrationlaws(e.g.overstayingavisa/working
illegally),whetheryouknewaboutitandhowyouresponded;6) HowyouwillrespondiftheHomeOfficetakestepstoremovethebailedpersonfromthe
UK.
Asafriendoffamilymemberofthebailapplicant,Question5and6canoftenbedifficulttoanswer.Inrelationtothepreviousimmigrationoffencesofthebailapplicant,itisimportantthatyouanswerthequestionshonestly.Asforpotentialremoval,youneedtorememberthatevenifyoufeelremovalisunfair,asacautioneryourroleistoencouragethepersontocomplywiththebailconditionsandcooperatewiththeHomeOffice.
DocumentstoPrepare
Whenyouattendthebailhearingyouwillneedtotakeanumberofdocumentswithyou.Atminimumyoushouldtake3months’worthofbankstatements,yourpassportandanydocumentsrelatingtoyourimmigrationstatus.Ifthebailapplicanthasalegalrepresentative,theyshouldbeabletoadviseyouexactlyonwhattobring.Thesecaninclude:
1) Evidenceofsavings(3months’bankstatements)2) Evidenceofincome(3months’paycheques)3) Evidenceofnationalityandimmigrationstatus(passportandvisapapers)4) Evidenceofemployment(e.g.letterfromemployer)5) Evidenceofplaceofresidence(e.g.CouncilTaxBill)(onlyifyouareprovidingthebail
address)
Interpreters
IfEnglishisnotyourfirstlanguageandyoufeeluncomfortablehavingtouseitwhenspeakingattheTribunal,youareallowedtoaskforaninterpreter.Theywilltranslatewhatisbeingforyou,andifyouareaskedanyquestionstheywilltranslateyouranswerstothejudge.Ifyouneedaninterpreter,youshouldtelltheapplicantortheirlegalrepresentativeastheywillhavetoputthisdownintheFormB1applicationsothattheTribunalhasenoughtimetoarrangeit.
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Summary:“Ihavedecidedtobeacautioner.WhatdoIdonow?”
Beforethebailapplicationismadeyouwillneedtodecide:
• Howmuchmoneyyouwanttoofferasbailbond.Youwillneedtopickanamountyoudonotwanttolose,butwhichyoucansurvivewithout.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)
• Whetheryouwanttoofferyourhouseasthebailaddress.Ifyoudo,itwillhelpyoufulfilyourroleasacautionerandcanincreasethechanceofbailbeinggranted.Butitisacostlyandlongcommitment,andthereareotheroptionsavailable.
• Whetheryouneedaninterpreteratthebailhearing.EvenifyouspeakEnglishandjusthavesomedoubtsoranxieties,youhavearighttoaskforone.
Beforethebailhearingyouwillneedtoprepare:
• AnswerstoquestionsabouthowyouwillinfluencethepersonreleasedonbailandhowyouwillrespondiftheyabscondortheHomeOfficedecidestoremovethem.
• Answerstopotentiallyintrusivequestionsaboutyourknowledgeofthebailapplicant’sfailuretofollowimmigrationlaws,yourrelationshipwiththeapplicantandyourfinancialandlivingarrangements.
• Documentstoproveyoursavings,yourincome,yourimmigrationstatusandyouraddress(ifyouaregoingtoprovidethebailaddress).
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Part3: TheBailHearing
3.1 Wherewillthebailhearingtakeplace?
BailhearingstakeplaceinTribunalHearingCentresintheImmigrationandAsylumChamber.InScotland,thereisonlyonehearingcentreanditisinGlasgow.Theaddressis:
EagleBuilding,215BothwellStreet,GlasgowG27TS
TheEagleBuildingisinGlasgowcitycentre,andisa10-minutewalkfromGlasgowCentralStation.ItisalsowithinwalkingdistancefromGlasgowQueenStreetStation,BuchananBusStationandBuchananStreetorStEnochSubwayStation.
Whenyouenterthebuildingthereshouldbeamemberofreceptionstaffwhocandirectyoutothecorrectpartofthebuilding.
FurtherdetailscanbefoundattheTribunal’swebsite:
http://courttribunalfinder.service.gov.uk/courts/glasgow-tribunal-hearing-centre-eagle-building
3.2 WhatwillhappenwhenIgettotheTribunal?
WhenyouarriveattheTribunalyouwillhavetogothroughsecurity.Theywillsearchyourbagandyouwillhavetowalkthroughametaldetector.Youwillthenmakeyourwaytothereceptionarea.TherewillbeadeskwhereaclerkoftheTribunalwillbesitting.Youshouldlettheclerkknowyournameandwhatyouaretherefor.Theywilltakenoteofthisandyouwillbeinvitedtositinthewaitingareauntilyourcaseiscalled.Thelegalrepresentativeofthepersonapplyingforbailwillusuallycomeandtalktoyouatsomepointbeforethehearingbegins.AswementionedinPart1.4thebailapplicantwillnotnormallybepresentatthehearing,butwillbetakingpartviavideolinkfromtheImmigrationRemovalCentre.
TheTribunalhearscasesbetween10amand5pm.Thebailhearingsareheardoneatatimebyanindividualjudge.Howlongyouwillhavetowaitwilldependonthenumberofcasesbeingheardontheday,andyourplaceonthecaselist.Whilstitispossiblethatyouwillbedonewithinanhour,itisalsopossiblethatyouwillhavetowaituntillateintheafternoon.Toavoidanystress,itisbestthatyousetasidetheentiredayanddonotmakeanyplans.IfyouarearrangingtransporthomefromtheTribunal(e.g.trainsorflights),youshouldbookthemforafter5pmasitispossiblethatitmaybethatlatebeforeyouarefinished.
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TheTribunalwillnormallybreakforlunch.YouwillbeabletoleavetheTribunaltobuylunchifyouwish.Thereareplentyofcafesandrestaurantsinthenearbyarea.
3.3 WhatfacilitiesarethereattheTribunal?
TheTribunalhasliftaccessanddisabledtoilets.Italsohasahearingloop.Ifyouorsomeoneaccompanyingyouhasadisabilitythatrequiresspecificassistance,youshouldwriteanoteandattachittotheFormB1application.YoucanalsocallaheadtolettheTribunalknowofyourrequirements.Theywilldotheirbesttoaccommodateyou.
ThewaitingareaintheTribunalisextremelybasicwithonlysomechairsandrestrooms.Asyouarelikelytobekeptwaitingforalongperiodoftime,youmaywanttoconsiderbringingsomethingtokeepyourselfoccupied.
Youarenotallowedtotakechildrenintothehearingroomwithyou,andtherearecurrentlynofacilitiesforchildcareattheTribunal.Ifyouhavetobringyourchildwithyou,youwillneedtohaveanotherpersontoaccompanyyousothattheycanstaywithyourchildinthewaitingroomwhilstyouareinthehearing.
3.4 WhathappensintheBailHearing?Diagram1
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TheFormatoftheHearing
Youwillnormallybeallowedtobepresentintheroomthroughouttheentirehearing.However,onsomeoccasionsthejudgemightdecidethatyoushouldremainoutsideandonlybeletintowardstheendofthehearingsothatyoucanbeaskedquestions.However,thisisrare.
Whenitistimeforthehearingthatyouarepartof,theclerkwilltakeyoutothehearingroomandwillshowyouwheretosit.ThelayoutoftheroomisshowninDiagram1.Asyouwillsee,youwillbeseatedatthesideorthebackoftheroom.TherewillbealargetableinthemiddlewheretherepresentativefortheHomeOfficeandthelawyerforthebailapplicantwillsitacrossfromeachother.Ifthereisaninterpreter,theywillsitnexttothebailapplicant’slawyer.Therewillbeatelevisionscreen,microphonesandacamerasetupsothatthevideolinkcanbeused.Youwillbeabletoseethebailapplicantonthescreen.Theyshouldbeabletoseeyou,butthiswilldependonwhereyouareseated.Therewillbeabenchatthefrontoftheroomwherethejudgewillsit.Mostbailhearingsareopentomembersofthepublic.Whilstitisunusualformembersofthepublictoattend,theymaydoso.
Onceeveryoneisseatedtheclerkwillshowthejudgein.Whenthejudgeenterstheroomeveryonemuststandandsitdownonlyoncethejudgeisseated.Theclerkwillnormallysitatatablenexttothebench,buttheymaymoveinandoutoftheroomduringthehearing.
Thejudgeisinchargeofthehearingandwillrunitinthewaythattheythinkisbest,sotheformatcanbedifferentfromjudgetojudge.However,thehearingwillnormallyproceedinthefollowingmanner:
• Thejudgewillintroducehimselforherselftothebailapplicant.Theywillmentionwhoelseisintheroomandshouldoutlinehowthehearingwillproceed.
• Thejudgewillaskthelawyerforthebailapplicanttopresenttheirargumentsastowhybailshouldbegranted.Thelawyerwillmaketheirarguments.Theymightasktheapplicantsomequestionsviathevideolink,andmightasyousomequestions.
• ThejudgewillasktheHomeOfficerepresentativetomaketheirargumentsastowhybailshouldberefused.TheHomeOfficerepresentativewillmaketheirargumentsandmightasktheapplicantsomequestionsviathevideolink,andmightaskyousomequestions.
• Thejudgecaninterruptatanypointandaskquestionstotheapplicantortoyou.
AswementionedinPart2.3,youwillnormallybeaskedquestionsabouthowyouwillencouragetheapplicanttofollowtheirconditionsiftheyarereleased.Aswementioned,thequestionscansometimesbequiteforceful.YoumaybeaskedsomedifficultquestionsabouthowyouwillrespondiftheHomeOfficemakeorderstoremoveaperson.Ifyouhaveabrokenthelaworfailedtocomplywithimmigrationlawsinthepast,thismightbebroughtupaswell.
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Youshouldanswerquestionsascalmlyandhonestlyasyoucan.Ifyoudonotunderstandthequestion,ordonotknowtheanswer,youshouldsayso.ItisimportanttorememberthatyouarenottheretotelltheTribunalwhythebailapplicantshouldbeallowedtostayintheUK.ThisisabailhearingandyourroleistohelppersuadetheTribunalthatyoucanhelpthebailapplicantfollowtheirconditions.
Interpretation
Ifthebailapplicantmentionedintheirapplicationthatyouneedaninterpreter,theTribunalwillprovideonewhospeaksyourlanguageanddialect.Ifthebailapplicantneedsthesameinterpreter,thentheinterpreterwilltranslateforbothofyou.
Thewaythetranslationworkswillchangedependingontheinterpreterandthejudge.Someinterpreterswilltranslatesimultaneouslywhilethejudgeorrepresentativesarespeaking.Otherswillwaituntiltheyhavestoppedspeaking,andwillthentranslatewhathasbeensaid.Iftheinterpreteristranslatingforthebailapplicantandissimultaneouslytranslating,thenitmightbedifficultforyoutohearwhatisbeingsaid.However,whenyouarebeingaskedquestions,theywillspeakdirectlytoyousothatyoucanhearthem.
RulesoftheHearingRoom
Tribunalhearingsarelessformalthannormalcourthearings.However,therearestillsomerulesthatyouneedtobeawareof:
1) Youshouldturnoffyourmobilephoneandotherelectronicdevicesyouhavewhenyouenterthehearingroom.
2) Youshouldstandupwhenthejudgeentersandleavestheroom.3) Youshouldremainasquietasyoucanwhenyouareinthehearingroomandtryyourbest
nottodisturbtheproceedings
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Summary:“Whathappensonthedayofthebailhearing?”
GettingtotheTribunal
• BailhearingsinScotlandhappenattheHearingCentreinGlasgow.Thebailapplicantwillbeinformedofthedateofthehearing.
• Anindividualjudgehearseachcaseinorderbetween10amand5pm.YoushouldarriveattheTribunalfor9:30amontheday,butneedtobepreparedforalongwaitinabasicwaitingroomincaseyourhearingisnotuntillaterintheday.
• YoumightneedtotravelalongwaytogettotheHearingCentre.Ifyouarebookingreturntransport,youshoulddosoforwellafter5pm.
• Youshouldbringyourpassport,bankstatementsandproofofyouraddress.• Ifyouhaveanydisabilities,youshouldlettheTribunalknowbeforehand.
Whathappensinthehearing?
• Youwillnormallybeinthehearingroomthroughoutthehearing.Theclerkwillshowyouwheretosit.
• Thejudgewillbeinchargeofthehearingandwillgivetherepresentativestimetomaketheirarguments.Therepresentativesandthejudgemightaskyouquestionstoseeifyoucaninfluencetheapplicant,andwhetheryoucanaffordthebailbond.
• Ifyouaskedforaninterpreter,theywillbepresentandwillhelptranslateforyouwhenyouarebeingaskedquestions.
• Youshouldkeepyourelectronicsturnedoff,andyoushouldtryandbeasleastdisruptiveaspossibleduringthehearing.
Thejudgeisinchargeofthehearing.Ingeneral,youshouldonlyspeakwhenyouarespokentoandyoushouldnotinterruptthejudgeortherepresentatives.If,however,somethingisunclearorincorrect,oryoubelievethatsomethingyousaidhasbeenmisunderstood,youshouldtrybringittotheattentionoftheTribunal.
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Part4: AftertheBailHearing
4.1 Whathappensifbailisrefused?
TheDecisiontoRefuseBail
Oncetherepresentativeshavefinishedmakingtheirargumentsandaskingquestions,thejudgewilldecidewhethertograntorrefusebail.Differentjudgesdothisindifferentways.Somewillleavetheroomforashortwhiletothinkaboutit.Otherswilldecideonthespot.Oncethejudgehasdecided,theywillgivetheirjudgementorallyinthehearingroom.
Ifthejudgehasdecidedtorefusebailtheywilltellthistothepersonindetention.Theywillalsogiveashortexplanationfortheirdecision.Thejudgewilllaterprovideawrittenformoftheirdecisiontothebailapplicant,ortheirlawyeriftheyhaveone.ThejudgewilltelltheguardattheIRCthatbailhasbeenrefused,andthepersonwillbetakenoutofthevideolinkroomandbackintodetention.
Oncethishashappened,thehearingisoverandtheclerkwillshowyouout.Youwillnotbeaskedtodepositanymoneyandyouwillbefreetogohome.
Re-ApplyingforBail
Ifbailisrefused,thepersonwhoappliedforitwillbekeptindetention.Theywillbeabletoapplyforbailagainbutwillneedtowait28daysunlessthereisachangeincircumstance.11Iftheyre-apply,theymightaskyoutobeacautioneragain.Beingacautioneronetimedoesnotmeanthatyouhavetobeonethenexttime,soitisentirelyyourchoiceifyouwanttobepartoftheprocessagain.
4.2 Whathappensifbailisgranted?
TheDecisiontoGrantBail
Ifthejudgedecidestograntbail,theywill,again,tellthistothepersonindetention.Theywillalsogiveashortexplanationfortheirdecision.Theywillalsomentionwhatconditionstheyareattachingtobailthatthepersonwillhavetofollowwhentheyarereleased.ThejudgewilltelltheguardattheIRCthatbailhasbeengranted,andthepersonwillbetakenbackintotheIRCtopreparefortheirrelease.
11Parap25(2)ofSchedule2totheImmigrationAct1971.
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WementionedinPart1.4thatifthereisanordertoremovetheapplicantwithin14days,theHomeOfficemustconsenttothejudge’sdecisiontograntbail.Ifthisisthecase,followingthejudge’sruling,theHomeOfficerepresentativewillleavetobrieflymakesomecalls.Whentheyreturntheywillinformthejudgeoftheirdecision.IftheHomeOfficedoesnotgiveconsent,theapplicantwillremainindetention.
ReleaseofthePersonfromDetention
Peopleindetentionarenotnormallywellpreparedfortheirrelease.Afterbailhasbeengrantedandformalitiesincludingthetransferofthebailbondshavebeenorganised(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1),thestaffatthedetentioncentrewilldirectthebailedpersontocollecttheirbelongings.Thebailedpersonwillthenbetransportedtoatrainorbusstationandgivenatickettogettothetownwheretheirbailaddressis.Ifyouareprovidingthebailaddress,youmaywanttotryandcontactthepersonsothatyoucanarrangehowtheywillgettoyourhouse.
4.3 BailConditionsandLifeonBail
InPart1.2webrieflymentionedhowapersonwhoisreleasedonbailwillberequiredtofollowanumberofdifferentconditions.Wediscussedhowtheconditionsarecentraltotheperson’sreleaseonbailandhowtheyhelptheTribunalreducetheriskofthepersonabsconding.Astheroleofacautioneristoencouragethepersonreleasedonbailtofollowtheirconditions,itisimportantthatyouunderstandwhattheseconditionsrequire.
PrimaryandSecondaryConditions
Aswehavealreadymentioned,bailconditionsaresplitinto‘Primary’and‘Secondary’conditions.The‘Primary’conditionsetsouthowlongbailwilllastandwhatthepersonreleasedonbailmusttodowhenitends.The‘Secondary’conditionwillplacecertainrestrictionsonthepersonforthedurationoftheirbail.ThesewillnormallyenabletheHomeOfficetoexercisesomesupervisionoverthembyrequiringthemtoliveatacertainaddressandregularlysignonwiththeHomeOffice.
Wewilllookatprimaryandsecondaryconditionsinmoredetailbelow,butfirstitisimportanttounderstandthedifferencebetweenthetwo.Thekeydifferenceistheconsequenceofnon-compliancewiththeconditions.Ifthepersonreleasedonbailbreachesanyoftheirconditions(primaryorsecondary),theycanbere-detainedbytheHomeOffice.Theycanalsofacecriminalcharges.However,astheircautioneryoucanonlylosethemoneyyoudepositedasthebailbondifthepersondoesnotfollowtheprimary(i.e.theyfailtoreportattheendoftheirbail).(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)
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PrimaryConditions
Aswehavementioned,agrantofbailonlylastsforaspecificperiodoftime.Theprimaryconditionsetsouthowlongbailwilllastandwhatthebailedpersonhastodowhentheirbailperiodcomestoanend.Theprimaryconditionworksdifferentlydependingonwhetherornotthebailedpersonhasanongoinglegalappeal.
Ifapersonhasnolegalappealpending,thentheirbailwilllastuntilaspecificdatesetbytheTribunal.Thisdatewillnormallybesetat3monthsfromthedateoftheirrelease.Attheendofthis3-monthperiod,theconditionwillstatethatthebailedpersonhastoattendtheTribunalto‘answertobail’.Whenaperson‘answerstobail’(i.e.whentheirgrantofbailcomestoanend)theTribunalwillnormallyrenewtheirbailandextendthegrantforafurther3months.Asacautioner,yourconsentisneededbeforebailcanberenewed.TheTribunalwillnotrenewbailunlessyouarehappytocontinueasacautioner,andyouareentitledtorefuse.Inpractice,neitheryounorthebailedpersonwillhavetophysicallyattendtheTribunal.Shortlybeforethegrantofbailcomestoanend,theHomeOfficewillsendalettertoyouortothebailedperson’slawyer.Thisletterwillaskforyoursignaturetoconfirmthatyouconsenttobailbeingrenewed.Onceyouhavereturnedthislettertothem,theywillarrangewiththeTribunalforbailtoberenewedforafurther3months.Youwillbenotifiedwhenthishappens.
Ifapersonhasanappealpending,thentheirbailwilllastuntiltheappealhasconcluded.Theprimaryconditionwillrequirethemtoattendeachofthehearingsfortheirappeal.Onceadecisionhasbeenmade,theTribunalwillgrantbailuntilaspecificdateatwhichtheywillhavetoanswertotheTribunal.Duringthistime,theHomeOfficewillgiveeffecttotherulingintheircase(i.e.arrangingtheirleavetoremainiftheyweresuccessful,andpossiblyarrangingtheirremovaliftheywerenot).
TheprimaryconditionthatapersonshouldanswertotheTribunalwhenthereisnolongeranappealpendingisuniquetoScotland.ThisonlyhappensbecausetheTribunalsinScotlandrequireyouasthecautionertopaythedeposittothem.AswementionedinPart1.5,oncethenewImmigrationAct2016comesintoeffect,cautionerswillnolongerhavetoactuallydepositthebailbond.Thiswillalsochangehowtheprimaryconditionworks.
Oncethe2016Actcomesintoeffect,ifthereisnoappealpendingtheTribunalwillgrantbailfor7days.Afterthe7daysthebailedpersonwillhavetoreporttoaChiefImmigrationOfficerto‘answertobail’(theconditionwillsetoutwhichCIO).TheCIOwillthenrenewbailforalengthoftime(usuallyafewmonths).FromthispointonwardsitwillbetheCIO,andnottheTribunal,whowillberesponsibleforrenewingbail.Similartocurrentpractice,asthecautioner,yoursignedconsentwillberequiredforbailrenewal.Ifapersondoeshaveanongoingappeal,thentheywillneedtoattendeachoftheirappealhearingsandoncetheappealisconcluded,theywillneedtoanswertoaCIO.
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SecondaryConditions
TheTribunaljudgewillalsosetsomesecondaryconditionsthataimtomakesurethatthepersonreportsattheendoftheirbail.ThesesecondaryconditionswillalsohelptheHomeOfficesupervisethepersonwhilsttheyareonbail.TheTribunalcansetawiderangeofsecondaryconditions,butusuallysetstwoorthreecommonones.
Thefirstoftheseiscalledtheresidencecondition.AswementionedaboveinPart2.2,apersonapplyingforbailwillneedtoprovideabailaddress.Theresidenceconditionmeansthatoncethepersonisreleased,theymustliveatthebailaddressforaslongastheirbaillasts.What‘living’atthebailaddressmeansisalittleunclear,butyoushouldtakeitasmeaningthatthepersonshouldreturnthereeachdayatsomepointtosleep.Theywillnotbeabletoleavetheareaforaholidayorstaywithotherfriends.
TheTribunalalsonormallysetareportingconditionthatwillrequirethepersonreleasedonbailtokeepinregularcontactwiththeHomeOffice.Thejudgewillsetadateandtime(e.g.‘between9amand3pmeveryMonday’)duringwhichthepersonhasto‘signon’atanearbyUKVisaandImmigrationofficeor,sometimes,alocalpolicestation.Thequeuesforsigningoncanbelong,anditisnormalforapersontohavetowaitinlineforanhourortwo.
4.4 WhatdoIdoifthingsgowrong?
Itispossiblethatwhilstapersonisreleasedonbailthingscangowrong.Thepersonmayfailtocomplywithabailcondition,ortheymaysuddenlybere-detainedbytheHomeOfficewhoareattemptingtoremovethem.Asacautioneritisimportantforyoutoknowtheconsequencesofthesesituationsandhowyoushouldrespond.
Re-Detention
WeemphasisedinPart1.2thatagrantofbaildoesnotgiveapersonarighttostayintheUK.Itisquitepossibleforapersonreleasedonbailtobere-detainedbytheHomeOffice.Fordifferentpeople,therearedifferentreasonswhythiscanhappen.Thetwomainreasonsarechangeincircumstancesandabreachofbailconditions.Wewilldealwithachangeofcircumstancesinthissection,andwilldealwithabreachofbailconditionsin‘BreachofBailConditions’below.
Thefirstreasonwhyapersoncanbere-detainedisachangeofcircumstances.IfapersonwasreleasedonbailwhilsttheHomeOfficeismakingadecisionontheirrighttostayintheUK,theHomeOfficemakingadecisionthattheyshouldberemovedwouldbeachangeofcircumstancesthatcouldleadtodetention.Ifapersonwasreleasedonbailwhilsttheirlegalappealisbeingheardbyacourt,thenlosingtheappealwillbeachangeofcircumstancesthat
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couldleadtodetention.Basically,theHomeOfficemightre-detainapersoniftheydecidethattheywanttoremovethem,andwhentherearenolongeranybarrierstothemdoingso.
IftheHomeOfficedecidetore-detainapersonbecauseofachangeincircumstances,theywillnotnormallygivethemanynotice.Itiscommonforthepersontobere-detainedwhentheygoforoneoftheirregularsigning-ons.Ifthepersonisre-detained,itmaybesometimebeforetheyareabletocallyoutoletyouknowwhathashappened.Becauseofthis,youmaywanttohaveasystemtohelpyoufindoutthatthepersonhasbeenre-detained.Thereareorganisations(e.g.Unity)whocanhelpwiththis.Thepersoncancheck-inwithUnitybeforegoingtosign-onandcanthencheck-inwithUnityoncetheyarefinished.Iftheydonotreturn,Unitywillknowthattheyhavebeenre-detained.Ifthepersonisregularlysigningonwiththesamegroupofpeople,theycouldalsoaskoneofthesepeopletonotifyyouiftheyarere-detained.Ifyoufindoutthatthepersonhasbeenre-detained,thefirstthingyoushoulddoiscontacttheirlegalrepresentative.TheHomeOfficemaybeplanningtoquicklyremovethepersonfromtheUK,andtheirrepresentativemightbeabletostopthis.
Ifthepersonisre-detainedbecauseofachangeincircumstances,thenastheircautioneryouarenotatfault.There-detentionwillmeanthatyourroleasacautionerisoverandyourdepositshouldbereturnedtoyou.
Ifthepersonisre-detained,itisalsopossiblethattheywillbetakenbackintotheImmigrationRemovalCentre.Theywillbeabletomakeanewbailapplicationandmayaskforyoutobetheircautioneragain.AswementionedinPart4.1,thisdecisionisentirelyyourown.
BreachesofBailConditions
Asyounowknow,yourroleasacautioneristoencouragethepersonreleasedonbailtofollowalloftheirbailconditions.Evenwithyourbestefforts,however,itispossiblethatthepersonwillfailtofollowabailcondition.
AswementionedinSection4.3,therearedifferentconsequencesforbreachingdifferentbailconditions.Thebreachofanyconditioncanleadtothepersonreleasedonbailbeingre-detained.However,onlyabreachofthePrimaryconditioncanleadtothelossofyourbailbonddeposit.Iftheprimaryconditionisreached,theTribunalwillholda‘forfeiturehearing’todecidewhetheryoushouldlosesomeorallofthedeposit.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)Atthehearing,theTribunalwilllookathowyourespondedtothebreachoftheprimarycondition,butwillalsolookathowyouencouragedthepersontofollowtheirsecondaryconditions.Soitisimportantthatyoutakealltheconditionsseriously.
Ifapersonreleasedonbailfailstofollowasecondarycondition(e.g.failingtosign-on),theywillnotalwaysbere-detained.SometimestheywillsimplyreceiveawarningletterfromtheHomeOffice.Ifthepersonfailstofollowtheirsecondaryconditions,youshouldstronglyencouragethemtofollowthemthenexttime,asrepetitivebreachescouldmakere-detention
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morelikely.Ifthepersoncannotfollowacondition(e.g.becausetheyareinhospital),thenyoushouldencouragethemtocontacttheHomeOfficecentrewheretheyarereporting.
Ifthepersonabscondsorfailstofollowtheirprimarycondition,youcouldlosethemoneythatyoudepositedasyourbailbond.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)Ifyouthinkthatthepersonisgoingtoabscondorfailtocomply,andyouareworriedthatyoucannotconvincethemotherwise,thenyouareallowedtocontacttheHomeOfficeandasktoberemovedasacautioner.Youneedtothinkcarefullybeforeyoudothis,however,becausethiscanleadtothepersonbeingre-detained.IfyoudocontacttheHomeOfficeandtellthemofyourconcerns,itisunlikelythatyouwillloseanyofyourdeposit.
Ifthepersonsuddenlyabsconds,youshouldcontacttheHomeOfficeandtheirlegalrepresentativetoinformthemofwhathashappened.Ifthepersonhasabsconded,youcouldlosesomeofyourdeposit.Indecidinghowwhetheryoushouldloseit,theTribunalwillconsiderhowyourespondedtotheabscondingandwhetheryoureportedyourconcerntotheHomeOffice.Whilstitmaybedifficultforyoutodo,especiallyastheabscondingcouldleadtotheperson’sre-detention,reportingittotheHomeOfficeisanimportantstepifyouwantyourbailbondreturned.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)
Aswementioned,ifthepersonreleasedonbailfailstofollowtheprimarycondition,theTribunalwillcalla‘forfeiturehearing’whereajudgewilldecidehowmuchofthebailbonddeposityoushouldlose.Youshouldfindalawyerwhowillrepresentandargueforyouatthehearing.Ifyouareeligible,youshouldbeabletoaccessLegalAidtohelppayforthecosts.Unfortunately,youcannothirethesamelawyerthatisworkingforthepersononbail,asthisisaconflictofinterest.
Atthehearing,theTribunalwilldecidewhetheryoushouldlosenone,someorallofthemoneythatyoudepositedasthebailbond.Thejudgewillconsideranumberofthingsinordertomaketheirdecision:
1) Thestepsyoutooktomakesurethepersonfollowedtheirprimarycondition2) WhetheryoureportedanyconcernstotheHomeOffice3) Thestepsyoutooktomakesurethepersonfollowedtheirsecondaryconditions4) Anyexplanationsthatyouhaveastowhyyoucouldnotcarryoutyourroleascautioner
IfyoucanshowtheTribunalthatyoudideverythinginyourpowertoencouragethepersontofollowtheirconditions,andyouimmediatelynotifiedtheirabscondingtotheHomeOffice,thentheTribunalismorelikelytoreturnsomeorallofyourdeposit.(Pleasenotetheforthcomingchangesinprocedurerelatingtobailmoney-seesection1.5.1)
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Summary:“Thebailhearingisfinished.Whathappensnow?”
Ifbailisrefused:
• TheTribunaljudgewillgivereasonswhybailwasrefused.Thepersonwhoappliedforbailwillbekeptindetentionandcannotreapplyfor28days.Yourroleasacautionerisoverandyoudonotneedtobeacautioneragainifyoudonotwantto.
Ifbailisgranted:
• TheTribunaljudgewillgivereasonswhybailwasgrantedandwillsetthebailconditions.Youwillhavetosignaformandpaythebailbond.Thepersonindetentionwillbereleasedtothebailaddressthattheyprovided.
• ItshouldbenotedthattheImmigrationAct2016willmakesomechangestothisareaoflaw.Insteadofanadvancedeposit,aprocedureinvolvingthecautioneragreeingtoundertaketopayifthebailedpersonbreachestheirconditionswillbeused.Whentheamendmentscomeintoforcetherewillthereforebenomoneytransferredtothetribunalatthetimeofagrantofbail.
• Thepersonreleasedonbailwillhavetofollowsomeconditions.Thesewillsaywheretheyhavetolive,whentheyhavetosignonattheHomeOffice,howlongtheirbaillastsandhowtheycanhaveitrenewed.
• Itisyourjobtoencouragethepersontofollowtheconditions.Iftheybreaktheconditions,theycanbere-detained.Iftheybreakaprimarycondition,therewillbeaforfeiturehearingwheretheTribunalwilldecideifyoushouldloseyourdeposit.
• Ifthepersonabsconds,youshouldcontacttheHomeOfficeandcooperatewiththemasmuchasyoucan.Ifyouareworriedthatthepersonisgoingtoabscond,youcanalsocontacttheHomeOfficeandasktoberemovedasacautioner.
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UsefulLinks
BailforImmigrationDetainees(BiD)Self-HelpGuides:
http://www.biduk.org/information-detainees/useful-forms-and-bids-self-help-guide-bail
TheBiDself-helpguideisdesignedtohelppeopleindetentionwhoaremakingtheirbailapplicationwithoutalawyer.ItexplainsbailandhowtomakethestrongestargumentsbeforetheTribunal.Theguideisavailableinanumberofdifferentlanguages.
RighttoRemainToolkit:
http://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/index.html
TheRighttoRemainToolkitlooksatawholenumberofdifferentissuesrelatingtoimmigrationandasylum.Fordetentionandbailyoushouldclickthe‘Contents’tabandthenthe‘Detention’box.
UnityCentre:
http://unitycentreglasgow.org/
TheUnityCentreprovidesupportpeopleonbailwiththeirsigning-onattheHomeOffice.Apersoncancheck-inandcheck-outwithUnitybeforeandaftersigning-on.ThiswayUnitywillknowiftheyhavebeenre-detained.
SecondReportoftheBailObservationProject(CampaigntoCloseCampsfield)
https://closecampsfield.wordpress.com/old-campaign-articles/still-a-travesty-justice-in-immigration-bail-hearings/
TheBailObservationProject(differenttoIBOPS)observedalargenumberofimmigrationbailhearingsinEngland.Theirreportcontainsarangeofstatisticsrelatingtobailhearings.
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PresidentialGuidanceNoteNo.1of2012:
https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bail-guidance-immigration-judges.pdf
Thisdocumentistheguidancegiventoimmigrationjudgestoguidetheminmakingbaildecisions.Ituseslegallanguageandiscomplicated,butitcangiveyouanideaofthefactorsthattheTribunaljudgewillbeconsidering.
Paragraphs21-25ofSchedule2totheImmigrationAct1971
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/77/schedule/2/part/I/crossheading/temporary-admission-or-release-of-persons-liable-to-detention
Thelawsurroundingbailisfoundinanumberofdifferentplaces.However,mostofitiscontainedinthispartoftheImmigrationAct1971.Thelanguageiscomplicatedandifpossibleyoushouldseektheassistanceofalawyertoexplainittoyou.