Internment

The word internment is generally used to refer to the imprisonment or confinement of people, generally in prison camps or prisons, without due process of law and a trial. It also refers to the practice of neutral countries in time of war to hold belligerent armed forces and equipment which enter their territory, under the Second Hague Convention.

Britain

During World War II, about 8,000 people were interned in Britain, many on the Isle of Man. They included enemy aliens, refugees who had fled from Germany, and suspected British Nazi sympathisers, such as British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Mosley. British nationals were detained under Defence Regulation 18B. Initially they were shipped overseas, but that was halted when a German U boat sank the SS Arandora Star in July 1940 with the loss of 800 internees, though this was not the first loss that had occurred. The last internees were released late in 1945, though many were released in 1942. In Britain, internees were housed in camps and prisons. Some camps had tents rather than buildings with internees sleeping directly on the ground. Men and women were separated and most contact with the outside world was denied. A number of prominent Britons including writer H. G. Wells campaigned against the internment of refugees.

Related Topics:
World War II - Britain - Isle of Man - Enemy alien - Germany - Nazi - British Union of Fascists - Oswald Mosley - Defence Regulation 18B - U boat - Arandora Star - 1940 - 1945 - 1942 - H. G. Wells

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Initially the British government rounded up 74,000 German and Austrian aliens, but within 6 months the 112 alien tribunals had individually summoned and examined 64,000 aliens, designated them as "friendly aliens" and freed them from internment with no special restrictions, eventually only 2,000 of the remainder were interned.

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Overseas, British citizens were also interned by the Axis Powers.

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During The Troubles suspected members of paramilitary groups were imprisoned without trial from August 9, 1971 following Operation Demetrius. Many were held at HM Prison Maze.

Related Topics:
The Troubles - Operation Demetrius - HM Prison Maze

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Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 was passed allowing the indefinite detention without charge, trial or prisoner of war status, of foreigners designated "suspected international terrorists" by the Home Secretary, but cannot be deported under existing immigration powers because they may face human rights abuses. In order to pass this statute, the British government declared a state of emergency and opted out of part of the European Convention on Human Rights referring to the right to liberty. The internees can choose to leave Britain voluntarily, if any other country lets them in. The legislation was judged to be illegal by the British courts and so HMG has initiated house arrest under temporay legislation.

Related Topics:
September 11, 2001 attacks - Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 - Prisoner of war - Home Secretary - Human rights abuses - State of emergency - European Convention on Human Rights - HMG

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