Post
by Mr Rusty » Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:56 am
Have you got your passport, is it still valid?
If so, the quickest way to get removed at public expense would be to surrender yourself at the nearest police station. You won't "go to jail", they won't bother to charge or prosecute you if you tell them you just want to give yourself up and go home - unless of course there are outstanding criminal offences that you don't want to face up to.
The police will call in an Immigration Officer who will come and interview you. Like any prisoner booked into police custody, you will be offered the option to take legal advice. This can cause a delay, because the criminal duty solicitor will say he's not qualified to deal with immigration cases, so the police have to contact the duty immigration solicitor, who may be in Newcastle or Manchester or somewhere else miles from where you are, and the best you can normally hope for is a consultation on the phone. The solicitor will then tell the police that he's given you advice but he doesn't propose to attend the interview. It's up to you whether you want to bother with this, but if all you want to do is go home there's not much advice that will be of use to you. The interview won't take long.
If you sign a disclaimer, they can book a flight in less than 3 days, if you don't, they have to give at least 72 hours notice of removal, which means that you will have to sit in a cell for that time.
Being in a police cell is not wonderful, but compared with sleeping in the park, you'll be in the dry and warm and get regular meals.
If you don't have your passport and want further advice, state your nationality, when you came to the UK and whether you have or can obtain other documents confirming your identity and nationality.
