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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Asylum protesters 'now contained' | Asylum protesters 'now contained' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A mutiny inside the UK's largest immigration centre has been contained, the Home Office has said. | A mutiny inside the UK's largest immigration centre has been contained, the Home Office has said. |
| Detainees at the 500-capacity Harmondsworth centre in west London staged a protest about living conditions in the early hours. | Detainees at the 500-capacity Harmondsworth centre in west London staged a protest about living conditions in the early hours. |
| Fires were started and about 50 asylum seekers spelt out "help" and "SOS" with bed sheets in the courtyard. | Fires were started and about 50 asylum seekers spelt out "help" and "SOS" with bed sheets in the courtyard. |
| The Home office said the situation was contained but some of the detainees would be moved from Harmondsworth. | |
| Lin Homer, head of the immigration and nationality directorate, said: "The perimeter remains secure, and no-one has escaped. There has been no risk to the public. No injuries to staff or detainees have been reported." | |
| Repeated disturbances | |
| She said 150 immigration offenders at centres across the UK would be bailed to make space for the detainees that were moved from Harmondsworth. | |
| "These are people who have been detained in order to better enforce their removal. We will priorities the cases according to risk. No foreign national prisoners will be released," Ms Homer added. | |
| The disturbance erupted following the publication of a prisons' watchdog report which criticised the centre's regime after repeated disturbances there. | The disturbance erupted following the publication of a prisons' watchdog report which criticised the centre's regime after repeated disturbances there. |
| Police were alerted at about 0040 GMT and prison officers and fire crews provided assistance at the centre near Heathrow Airport. | Police were alerted at about 0040 GMT and prison officers and fire crews provided assistance at the centre near Heathrow Airport. |
| Harmondsworth's conditions have been criticised before | Harmondsworth's conditions have been criticised before |
| Dozens of extra officers, including riot police and dog handlers, were sent to the centre, which currently has 482 residents. | Dozens of extra officers, including riot police and dog handlers, were sent to the centre, which currently has 482 residents. |
| The disturbances spread to all four wings of the centre and several fires were lit, setting off the sprinkler system. | The disturbances spread to all four wings of the centre and several fires were lit, setting off the sprinkler system. |
| In a report published on Tuesday, the chief inspector of prisons was highly critical of standards at the centre. | In a report published on Tuesday, the chief inspector of prisons was highly critical of standards at the centre. |
| The report said detainees feared bullying, and staff were unaware of a special plan to prevent suicides. | The report said detainees 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 at Harmondsworth, sparking a major disturbance that led to its temporary closure. | In 2004, a detainee committed suicide at Harmondsworth, sparking a major disturbance that led to its temporary closure. |
| Since then, the centre has been at the centre of ongoing campaigns against detention of failed asylum seekers. | Since then, the centre 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. | 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. | 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 | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |