The disturbance which occurred in Lyster Barracks Detention Centre this week does not come as a surprise to UNHCR as it is an inevitable consequence of Malta’s detention system, which puts asylum-seekers and other irregular and undocumented migrants behind bars in the same facilities, at times for lengthy periods of time.
UNHCR is not in a position to assess the police intervention in detail as our staff were not present during the incident. However, we have noted from our routine visit in detention that the use of force resulted in some minor injuries. The goal should be to avoid such situations which present a risk to those held in detention as well as to detention staff and the police.
This incident is another reminder that there are systemic problems within the current reception system in Malta that need to be addressed, including as regards the way detention is used for asylum seekers, judicial oversight over administrative decisions to detain persons, the separation of groups with different statuses, and further development of capacity and infrastructure in detention centres.
UNHCR welcomes the decision to hold an inquiry into what happened in detention this week. We stand ready to engage in discussions with relevant authorities on how practical steps can be taken to improve the current reception system so that incidents such as the one which occurred a few days ago can as far as possible be avoided.
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