A ‘positive event’ to discuss migration was well-attended at Dover Town Hall.

Against the Tide: Sharing Positive Perspectives on Migration was hosted, last week, by Samphire, a migrant support charity, based in Dover.

Fraser Paterson, detention support project manager at Samphire, said: “It was great to have such a positive event in Dover discussing immigration.

“We saw a real desire from people to hear something different about migration and it was great that we got a chance to discuss these complex issues.”

A short film was shown, featuring people who had been detained in the UK and two of those in the film also spoke at the event.

Samphire also handed out copies of the parliamentary inquiry into immigration detention, which was published in March 2015.

The charity explained that the UK is the only country in Europe without a time limit on detention and the inquiry recommends a 28-day time limit.

Rosa Potter, the detention support officer at Samphire, made a presentation about her experience visiting the migrant camps in Calais.

She said migrants are living in appalling conditions without access to adequate food, water, shelter or sanitation.

A new day centre has been created, but the charity said this still does not provide basic welfare and has been described as an “official slum”.

The event also included a presentation by Fraser Paterson, who highlighted that 86% of refugees are hosted by the world’s poorest countries.

He also discussed the million Indian people who served in the First World War and the 143 Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain to show the contribution of migration to Britain.He also highlighted that 26% of NHS doctors are foreign nationals and added: “Recent policies on migration have been openly hostile to immigrants.I think this has harmed our communities.

“I live in Dover and our community will get stronger the more we try and understand the situation of immigrants.”

For more information on Samphire, visit the website at www.samphireproject.org.uk