Our Team

James joined Detention Action as Deputy Director in April 2019, with two periods as Acting Director. He was previously Director of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group for two and a half years, and has worked for 17 years in the refugee and detention sector (including over 10 years at the British Red Cross). He has extensive frontline experience supporting people at all stages of the asylum and detention processes. His work at Detention Action has included leading our challenge to the Rwanda policy.

Sally oversees our casework service for people being held indefinitely in detention. She manages a team of Casework Coordinators who provide emotional and practical support to people in detention and leads on the development of the service.

Mona Alya, LJ & Leïla – Casework Coordinators

Detention Action’s Casework Coordinators are key members of the Casework Team, working with our Casework Manager to provide emotional and practical support to people in immigration detention and coordinate our network of volunteers.

Carmen has coordinated our fundraising work since July 2025. She has campaigned and organised for migrant justice in the US and UK. She holds qualifications in criminology, criminal Justice and public policy.

Alla – Communications & Campaigns Officer

Alla joined Detention Action in May 2024. She studied Sociology and brings several years of experience as an academic researcher in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Detention Action, she worked in communications roles at Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID) and Border Criminologies at the University of Oxford.

Dana manages our office and provides administrative support to the team.

None of our work would be possible without our incredible team of around 40 volunteers. If you’re interested in joining us, you can find out more here.

Detention Action is registered charity (no. 1198554) and is funded by a range of individuals and organisations including: A B Charitable Trust, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Bromley Trust, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation,  Trust for London, City Bridge Foundation, Oak Foundation and Comic Relief.