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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Protest asylum centre evacuated | Protest asylum centre evacuated |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| About 150 immigration offenders are to be bailed to make room for detainees caught up in a mutiny at the UK's largest immigration centre. | About 150 immigration offenders are to be bailed to make room for detainees caught up in a mutiny at the UK's largest immigration centre. |
| The 500-capacity Harmondsworth centre in London will be partly evacuated, the Home Office said. A further formal statement is expected on Thursday. | |
| Officials said the unrest had been "contained" after a day of protest over living conditions. | Officials said the unrest had been "contained" after a day of protest over living conditions. |
| Fires were started and asylum seekers spelt out "SOS" with bed sheets. | |
| Immigration offenders from other detention centres will be released on bail to make room for the arrival of detainees from Harmondsworth. | |
| Lin Homer, head of the immigration and nationality directorate, stressed no foreign national prisoners would be released. | Lin Homer, head of the immigration and nationality directorate, stressed no foreign national prisoners would be released. |
| 'Sabotage attempt' | 'Sabotage attempt' |
| "The situation at Harmondsworth remains contained," she said. "The perimeter remains secure, and no-one has escaped. | "The situation at Harmondsworth remains contained," she 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." | "There has been no risk to the public. No injuries to staff or detainees have been reported." |
| This is yet another example of John Reid's mismanagement of the immigration system Damian Greenshadow immigration minister | |
| Ms Homer said the disturbance was a "deliberate attempt to sabotage" the removals process. | Ms Homer said the disturbance was a "deliberate attempt to sabotage" the removals process. |
| "Removal will still be pursued vigorously in all cases," she said. "We will prioritise the cases according to risk." | "Removal will still be pursued vigorously in all cases," she said. "We will prioritise the cases according to risk." |
| Police were alerted at about 0040 GMT Wednesday to reports of unrest which spread to all four wings of the centre, which has 482 residents. | |
| The unrest erupted following the publication of a report raising concerns about poor relations between staff and detainees at the centre. | |
| Chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers said her new report on Harmondsworth gave the poorest rating she had yet issued on such a facility. | |
| It was not meeting any of her major tests and more than 60% of detainees said they felt unsafe, the report said. | It was not meeting any of her major tests and more than 60% of detainees said they felt unsafe, the report said. |
| Home Office minister Liam Byrne said he took Ms Owers' report recommendations "very seriously". | |
| "An action plan responding in detail is currently being drawn up to ensure further improvements are made," he said. | "An action plan responding in detail is currently being drawn up to ensure further improvements are made," he said. |
| Shadow immigration minister Damian Green criticised Home Secretary John Reid over the need to bail detainees. | Shadow immigration minister Damian Green criticised Home Secretary John Reid over the need to bail detainees. |
| He said: "This is yet another example of John Reid's mismanagement of the immigration system." | He said: "This is yet another example of John Reid's mismanagement of the immigration system." |
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. |
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