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<p>Detained individuals are advised of their right to legal representation, and how
they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an Immigration
Removal Centre (IRC).</p><p>The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) operates free legal advice
surgeries in IRCs in England. Individuals who are detained are entitled to receive
up to 30 minutes of advice regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their
case. There is no restriction on the number of surgeries an individual may attend.
If an individual who is detained requires substantive advice on a matter which is
in scope of legal aid, full legal advice can be provided if the statutory legal aid
means and merits criteria are met.</p><p>Legal visits can take place from both legal
providers attending under the Legal Aid Detained Duty Advice Scheme and other legal
providers visiting their clients who are in detention. In line with Government advice
on social distancing, during the pandemic, face to face legal visits were facilitated
in exceptional circumstances, and only if other means of contact (Skype, telephone,
email) were not feasible or appropriate. In light of changes to Government guidance,
face to face legal visits can now be facilitated. Safe systems of work are in place
to ensure the safety of detained individuals, onsite staff and visitors during these
visits.</p><p>The number of in-person legal visits, which includes both legal providers
attending under the Legal Aid Detained Duty Advice Scheme and other legal providers
visiting their clients who are in detention, that took place between 1 January and
26 May 2022, is set out in the table below:</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><p>In
person legal visits</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Detained
Duty Advice Scheme</p></td><td colspan="2"><p>Total: all other in-person legal visits*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p>1 January– 31 March 2022</p></td><td><p>1 April 2022 to date</p></td><td><p>1
January– 31 March 2022</p></td><td><p>1 April 2022 to date</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Brook
House</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>90</p></td><td><p>22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Colnbrook</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>55</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Derwentside</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dungavel</p></td><td
colspan="2"><p>N/A</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Harmondsworth</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>34</p></td><td><p>111</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tinsley
House</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yarl’s
Wood</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>36</p></td><td><p>28</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>*Does not include in-person legal visits carried out under the DDA Scheme</p><p>
</p><p>This is provisional Home Office management information that has not been assured
to the standard of official statistics.</p>
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