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Fires started at asylum complex | Fires started at asylum complex |
(10 minutes later) | |
Large-scale disturbances are taking place in the UK's largest immigration detention centre. | Large-scale disturbances are taking place in the UK's largest immigration detention centre. |
Police, prison officers and fire crews were called to the Harmondsworth centre, west London, in the early hours after a number of fires were started. | Police, prison officers and fire crews were called to the Harmondsworth centre, west London, in the early hours after a number of fires were started. |
Detainees have been seen in a courtyard spelling out the word Help. | Detainees have been seen in a courtyard spelling out the word Help. |
A prisons' watchdog report criticised the centre's regime this week after repeated disturbances there. | A prisons' watchdog report criticised the centre's regime this week after repeated disturbances there. |
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. |
The centre opened in 2001 | |
"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. | |
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. |
Detainee suicide | |
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. |