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Protest asylum centre evacuated Protest centre inmates moving out
(about 2 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 released from asylum centres to make space for detainees caught up in protests at a complex in west London.
The 500-capacity Harmondsworth centre in London will be partly evacuated, the Home Office said. A further formal statement is expected on Thursday. The 500-capacity Harmondsworth centre near Heathrow airport will be partly evacuated, the Home Office said.
Officials said the unrest had been contained after a day of protest over living conditions. The detainees will be transferred to centres around the UK as other people are released on bail.
Fires were started and asylum seekers spelt out Help and SOS with bed sheets. Asylum seekers started fires and spelt out Help and SOS with sheets in a day of protest over living conditions.
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.
'Sabotage attempt''Sabotage attempt'
"The situation at Harmondsworth remains contained," she said. "The perimeter remains secure, and no-one has escaped. Lin Homer, head of the immigration and nationality directorate, said it would be necessary to bail about 150 immigration offenders from elsewhere.
"There has been no risk to the public. No injuries to staff or detainees have been reported." But she stressed no foreign national prisoners would be released.
This is yet another example of John Reid's mismanagement of the immigration system Damian GreenShadow immigration minister She said the disturbance at Harmondsworth had been a "deliberate attempt to sabotage" deportations.
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.
"Removal will still be pursued vigorously in all cases," she said. "We will prioritise the cases according to risk." "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, housing 482 residents. Police were alerted at about 0040 GMT Wednesday as unrest which spread to all four wings of the centre, housing 482 residents.
The unrest erupted following the publication of a report raising concerns about poor relations between staff and detainees at the centre.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. This is yet another example of John Reid's mismanagement of the immigration system Damian GreenShadow immigration minister
Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said her latest report on Harmondsworth gave it 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".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."
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