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Mass escape from detention centre | Mass escape from detention centre |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police are looking for 16 asylum seekers who escaped from a detention centre after a fire was started there. | |
A total of 26 people broke out of Campsfield House, near Kidlington in Oxford, but 10 have been caught. | A total of 26 people broke out of Campsfield House, near Kidlington in Oxford, but 10 have been caught. |
Officers in riot gear were brought in to deal with a disturbance at the centre on Saturday night, when a fire was lit in the building. | Officers in riot gear were brought in to deal with a disturbance at the centre on Saturday night, when a fire was lit in the building. |
The escapees are being urged to hand themselves in to police by a leading immigration rights campaigner. | |
Imam Sajid, chairman of Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, which provides independent legal advice for asylum applicants, said: "If you have a grievance do it properly - hand yourselves in now and get legal representation." | |
We are doing everything we can to locate the missing 16 people Thames Valley Police | We are doing everything we can to locate the missing 16 people Thames Valley Police |
Mr Sajid said detainees should not have started fires or escaped. But he added the men are desperate and called for an overhaul of Britain's asylum policy. | |
"It is hard to be sympathetic towards anyone who breaks the law but these men must be desperate to have done this," he said. | |
A helicopter, police dogs and a large number of officers are searching for the escapees. | |
The trouble began a day after more than 150 detainees agreed to suspend a hunger strike they had been maintaining. | The trouble began a day after more than 150 detainees agreed to suspend a hunger strike they had been maintaining. |
They complained to officials about overcrowded conditions and claimed they were being held illegally. | They complained to officials about overcrowded conditions and claimed they were being held illegally. |
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said that although 16 detainees were still missing, the situation was "fully under control". | A Thames Valley Police spokesman said that although 16 detainees were still missing, the situation was "fully under control". |
Police had secured the centre, near Kidlington, to prevent other detainees escaping. | Police had secured the centre, near Kidlington, to prevent other detainees escaping. |
Rooftop protest | Rooftop protest |
The spokesman added: "We are doing everything we can to locate the missing 16 people." | |
A Home Office spokesman also said "every effort" was being made to recapture those still at large. | |
He said: "The establishment itself suffered minor damage. | He said: "The establishment itself suffered minor damage. |
"Borders and Immigration Agency staff, prison service staff, police and GEO are working to ensure a speedy return to normality at Campsfield." | "Borders and Immigration Agency staff, prison service staff, police and GEO are working to ensure a speedy return to normality at Campsfield." |
Campsfield was converted into an immigration detention centre in 1993 amid a storm of protest from local residents. | Campsfield was converted into an immigration detention centre in 1993 amid a storm of protest from local residents. |
It is run by the American company GEO and holds up to 200 male asylum seekers at a time. | It is run by the American company GEO and holds up to 200 male asylum seekers at a time. |
Within six months of opening, six asylum seekers escaped following a rooftop protest. | Within six months of opening, six asylum seekers escaped following a rooftop protest. |