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| Fires started at asylum complex | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Disturbances broke out overnight in all four wings of the UK's largest immigration detention centre and a number of fires were started. | |
| Police and prison staff from across southern England were called to the Harmondsworth centre in west London. | Police and prison staff from across southern England were called to the Harmondsworth centre in west London. |
| Staff are in discussions with detainees and the perimeter has been secured, the Home Office said. | Staff are in discussions with detainees and the perimeter has been secured, the Home Office said. |
| A prisons' watchdog report heavily criticised the centre's regime this week after repeated disturbances. | A prisons' watchdog report heavily criticised the centre's regime this week after repeated disturbances. |
| Sprinkler system | Sprinkler system |
| The Metropolitan Police said they were called at about 0040 GMT and officers were providing assistance at the scene, near Heathrow airport. Fire crews are also on standby. | The Metropolitan Police said they were called at about 0040 GMT and officers were providing assistance at the scene, near Heathrow airport. Fire crews are also on standby. |
| A Home Office spokesman said specialist prison officers were drafted in when several fires were lit in the early hours, setting off the sprinkler system. | A Home Office spokesman said specialist prison officers were drafted in when several fires were lit in the early hours, setting off the sprinkler system. |
| He said the situation was ongoing. There were no reports of injuries to staff or detainees. | He said the situation was ongoing. There were no reports of injuries to staff or detainees. |
| "Police have assisted the prison and immigration services by securing the perimeter and there is absolutely no risk to the public," he added. | "Police have assisted the prison and immigration services by securing the perimeter and there is absolutely no risk to the public," he added. |
| The centre, which can hold up to 501 people currently has 482 people staying there. | The centre, which can hold up to 501 people currently has 482 people staying there. |
| Bullying fears | Bullying fears |
| In a report published on Tuesday, chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers said the complex was hard to run - but her report was the poorest ever on a removal centre. | In a report published on Tuesday, chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers said the complex was hard to run - but her report was the poorest ever on a removal centre. |
| Detainees said they feared bullying, and staff were unaware of a special plan to prevent suicides. | Detainees said they feared bullying, and staff were unaware of a special plan to prevent suicides. |
| The Home Office said it would draw up a plan to improve the centre. | The Home Office said it would draw up a plan to improve the centre. |
| In 2004 a detainee committed suicide, sparking a major disturbance that led to its temporary closure. | In 2004 a detainee committed suicide, sparking a major disturbance that led to its temporary closure. |
| Since then, Harmondsworth has been at the centre of ongoing campaigns against detention of failed asylum seekers. | Since then, Harmondsworth has been at the centre of ongoing campaigns against detention of failed asylum seekers. |