This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6194410.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Fires started at asylum complex | Fires started at asylum complex |
| (30 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. |
| Just before noon about 50 detainees were seen in a courtyard spelling out the word help with bed sheets. | |
| 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. |
| The disturbances had spread to all four wings of the centre. | The disturbances had spread to all four wings of the centre. |
| 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. |
| The centre opened in 2001 | The centre opened in 2001 |
| Lin Homer, head of the immigration and nationality directorate, said: "The situation is contained and the perimeter at Harmondsworth has not been breached." | Lin Homer, head of the immigration and nationality directorate, said: "The situation is contained and the perimeter at Harmondsworth has not been breached." |
| Riot police are understood to have been sent to the centre along with several police security vans and dog handlers who are patrolling the perimeter. | |
| Ms Homer would not confirm that officers sent to quell the disturbances had full control of all four wings. | |
| 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. |
| 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 | 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. |
Have you been affected by this story? Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | |
| You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100. | |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | |