10 hotline’). In the Dutch detention system, the use of even years. Undocumented people can be detained mobile phones is prohibited, and access of NGOs or for immigration-related purposes either in adminis- journalists to detention facilities is limited. The hotline trative facilities or prisons. Personal smartphones are aims to expose abuses in detention centres, with the systematically confiscated upon detention, in admin- ultimate goal of ending administrative detention. istrative detention facilities people are given a basic This hotline is one of the only ways to monitor mobile phone (without internet or a camera) and in detention conditions and what is happening inside prisons there is limited access to landline phones. The the centres. ‘Meldpunt Vreemdelingendetentie’ also hotline developed by Detention Action is active five collects complaints made by individuals in detention days per week and is supported by trained volunteers and their relatives, staff of detention centres, medical who answer the phones. All contact with people services and policymakers. When possible, it that call the advice line is registered in a database provides legal assistance and other forms of support. and volunteers are supported by the NGO staff The NGO aims to collect and connect the complaints through an instant messaging system. The ‘Advice to gain insight into the conditions of detention and Line’ provides migrants with practical advice and to raise awareness as well as political and media support (e.g., establishing contacts with a solicitor, attention. Conditions of detention are not litigated advocating on healthcare issues with detention staff at a judicial level. Lawyers focus on challenging or applying for legal aid). As people in detention can detention or deportation decisions and do not work experience strong feelings of isolation, it also offers on abuses or violations of the rights of individuals crucial emotional support and the opportunity to during detention. Through the hotline, ‘Meldpunt talk to someone. The hotline is free for people held Vreemdelingendetentie’ has started to write com- in immigration detention centres, while calls have to plaints and send them to the Supervisory Committee be paid for by people held in prison (in this case, the (CvT), 24 an independent body responsible for number also has to be approved by the prison staff). investigating complaints and adopting decisions on To address this issue, the NGO offers phone credit to monetary compensation. All complaints are collected those detained in prisons. This system is combined in a juridical database managed by Stichting Los. with regular visits to detention centres. However, This has also contributed to the professionalisation the helpline has allowed the organisation to reach of the Complaint Mechanism system. more people over a wider geographical area and to 23 include people in prisons, where physical access is Support to people in detention through a phone hotline is similarly provided by the organisation Detention Action,25 which operates an Advice Line in the United Kingdom. In the UK, migrants can be detained without any time limit: the usual duration is 28 days, but detention can last up to months or 23 Information provided by ‘Meldpunt Vreemdelingendetentie’ (Stichting Los). 24 Dutch Supervisory Committee (Commissie van Toezicht). 25 See Detention Action’s website. more difficult.