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Morton Hall concerns raised after Christmas disturbances Morton Hall concerns raised after Christmas disturbances
(35 minutes later)
Detainees, campaigners and prison officers have raised concerns about an immigration detention centre in Lincolnshire after it was the scene of disturbances over Christmas and New Year, the latest in a number of incidents at the 400-capacity institution. Detainees, campaigners and prison officers have raised concerns about an immigration detention centre in Lincolnshire after it was the scene of disturbances over Christmas and new year, the latest in a number of incidents at the 400-capacity institution.
Up to 50 detainees at Morton Hall, which houses male foreign nationals awaiting deportation, were involved in a protest on Christmas Day in which they refused to return to their rooms, while a disturbance on 30 December involving 30-40 migrants resulted in a number of injuries to staff and detainees.Up to 50 detainees at Morton Hall, which houses male foreign nationals awaiting deportation, were involved in a protest on Christmas Day in which they refused to return to their rooms, while a disturbance on 30 December involving 30-40 migrants resulted in a number of injuries to staff and detainees.
The details of the incidents are disputed. The UK Border Agency said both incidents were resolved within an hour, and that the more serious incident required hospital treatment for one detainee, who suffered a hand injury and minor head injury, while a small number of staff were slightly hurt. The details of the incidents are disputed. The UK Border Agency said both incidents were resolved within an hour, and that the more serious incident required hospital treatment for one detainee, who suffered a hand injury and minor head injury, while a small number of staff were slightly hurt.
But Glyn Travis, of the Prison Officers Association, said up to 10 officers had been hurt on 30 December, including a female staff member who had been badly beaten. He said staffing levels at the detention centre were "at the very, very sharp end of what we believe to be safe. This is not a one-off, it's part of ongoing problems that have been going on for months and months." But Glyn Travis, of the Prison Officers Association, said up to 10 officers had been hurt on 30 December, including a female staff member who had been badly beaten. He said staffing levels at the detention centre were "at the very, very sharp end of what we believe to be safe. This is not a one-off, it's part of ongoing problems that have been going on for months and months."
Eighteen men from Afghanistan detained at the centre began a hunger strike in September in protest at plans to return them to their home country, while the centre was the scene of two rooftop protests in July.Eighteen men from Afghanistan detained at the centre began a hunger strike in September in protest at plans to return them to their home country, while the centre was the scene of two rooftop protests in July.
One detainee, who asked not to be identified, told the Guardian that reports of a widespread riot on 30 December were exaggerated, but said trouble had flared following a fight between a Ugandan and an Afghan, in which one man had his head injured by a pool ball, after which a staff member was assaulted as the men were being separated. One detainee, who asked not to be identified, told the Guardian that reports of a widespread riot on 30 December were exaggerated, but said trouble had flared following a fight between a Ugandan and an Afghan, in which one man had his head injured by a pool ball, after which a staff member was assaulted as the men were being separated.
But he said tensions were high at the centre, where many detainees have been in custody for months or even years awaiting deportation. The detainee said that before Christmas inmates had gone without hot food for days, and claimed staff at the centre had held back on processing cash sent by friends and relatives, which allows them to buy food in the canteen. But he said tensions were high at the centre, where many detainees have been in custody for months or even years awaiting deportation. The detainee said that before Christmas inmates had gone without hot food for days, and claimed staff at the centre had held back on processing cash sent by friends and relatives, which allows them to buy food in the canteen.
The man said the more serious disturbance followed an incident when a detainee accidentally left a tap running in his room, causing a small flood. The following day, the water in the entire centre was turned off, the man said, including the flush in the in-room toilets.The man said the more serious disturbance followed an incident when a detainee accidentally left a tap running in his room, causing a small flood. The following day, the water in the entire centre was turned off, the man said, including the flush in the in-room toilets.
He claimed some staff were racist and violent towards detainees, and said the relationship between staff and detainees was worse than at other centres where he had been held, for a total of more than two years.He claimed some staff were racist and violent towards detainees, and said the relationship between staff and detainees was worse than at other centres where he had been held, for a total of more than two years.
Morton Hall, a former women's prison that was reopened in 2011 as an immigration removal centre, is one of three detention centres, out of a total of 12, that are run directly by the prison service.Morton Hall, a former women's prison that was reopened in 2011 as an immigration removal centre, is one of three detention centres, out of a total of 12, that are run directly by the prison service.
Kate Blagojevic of the campaign group Detention Action said some of the issues faced by detainees at Morton Hall were common to all detention centres, but that the relative geographical isolation of the former prison led to added problems.Kate Blagojevic of the campaign group Detention Action said some of the issues faced by detainees at Morton Hall were common to all detention centres, but that the relative geographical isolation of the former prison led to added problems.
"People are held without time limit in high-security immigration detention centres such as Morton Hall," she said. "Their mental and physical health deteriorates rapidly and they often find it hard to access legal representation. People can be held for months or even years but ultimately don't know how long they will be locked up for.""People are held without time limit in high-security immigration detention centres such as Morton Hall," she said. "Their mental and physical health deteriorates rapidly and they often find it hard to access legal representation. People can be held for months or even years but ultimately don't know how long they will be locked up for."
Given the centre's location, she said, "it is incredibly geographically isolated from support networks such as NGOs and visitors' groups. There are groups and individuals who do their absolute best to support people there, but their capacity is necessarily limited."Given the centre's location, she said, "it is incredibly geographically isolated from support networks such as NGOs and visitors' groups. There are groups and individuals who do their absolute best to support people there, but their capacity is necessarily limited."
It was essential, she said, "that we work towards alternatives to detention based on fairness not force, that people are treated with dignity and that a time limit is urgently implemented".It was essential, she said, "that we work towards alternatives to detention based on fairness not force, that people are treated with dignity and that a time limit is urgently implemented".
Travis called for the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to review staffing levels at the centre, and examine the level of deterrent against detainees becoming violent, claiming that prosecutors were reluctant to charge them over unlawful disturbances.Travis called for the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to review staffing levels at the centre, and examine the level of deterrent against detainees becoming violent, claiming that prosecutors were reluctant to charge them over unlawful disturbances.
The UKBA said in a statement it was "working closely with Morton Hall's management team to ensure we fully understand the reasons for these disturbances and to reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future". The UKBA said in a statement it was "working closely with Morton Hall's management team to ensure we fully understand the reasons for these disturbances and to reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future".
"Morton Hall is a safe place for detainees and staff. We will not tolerate any behaviour which might put anyone at risk of harm.""Morton Hall is a safe place for detainees and staff. We will not tolerate any behaviour which might put anyone at risk of harm."
A spokesman added that detainees who were unhappy with conditions or treatment had access to a comprehensive complaints procedure, while all centres were overseen by an independent monitoring board.A spokesman added that detainees who were unhappy with conditions or treatment had access to a comprehensive complaints procedure, while all centres were overseen by an independent monitoring board.
The Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for staffing levels at the centre, said: "We take very seriously all incidents at any of our establishments and we'll carefully examine what lessons can be learned from the incidents at Morton Hall on 25 and 30 December."The Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for staffing levels at the centre, said: "We take very seriously all incidents at any of our establishments and we'll carefully examine what lessons can be learned from the incidents at Morton Hall on 25 and 30 December."
The chair of the centre's Independent Monitoring Board, Rod Booth, told the BBC that in his view "there has never been any tension [at Morton Hall] and I believe the staff/detainee relationship is very sound".The chair of the centre's Independent Monitoring Board, Rod Booth, told the BBC that in his view "there has never been any tension [at Morton Hall] and I believe the staff/detainee relationship is very sound".