This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/15/yarls-wood-must-give-inmates-access-to-guide-avoiding-deportation

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Yarl's Wood must give inmates access to guide on avoiding deportation Yarl's Wood must give inmates access to guide on avoiding deportation
(about 5 hours later)
Staff at Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre who confiscated a legal, self-help guide on resisting deportation have been ordered by the Home Office to return copies to inmates.Staff at Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre who confiscated a legal, self-help guide on resisting deportation have been ordered by the Home Office to return copies to inmates.
The booklet, which has circulated around immigration centres for more than a decade, was removed by security officials employed by Serco, the private contractor which runs the centre in Bedfordshire.The booklet, which has circulated around immigration centres for more than a decade, was removed by security officials employed by Serco, the private contractor which runs the centre in Bedfordshire.
The company said staff began seizing copies last week “given the nature of the content”. Inmates said they were told the reading material was banned. The publication, entitled For Asylum Seekers and their Supporters, a Self-Help Guide Against Detention and Deportation, advises on how to pursue legal rights and seek help.The company said staff began seizing copies last week “given the nature of the content”. Inmates said they were told the reading material was banned. The publication, entitled For Asylum Seekers and their Supporters, a Self-Help Guide Against Detention and Deportation, advises on how to pursue legal rights and seek help.
The seizures were made at a time when legal aid for immigration, as opposed to asylum, cases is no longer available and few lawyers can afford to take up such cases.The seizures were made at a time when legal aid for immigration, as opposed to asylum, cases is no longer available and few lawyers can afford to take up such cases.
As many as 90 copies of the book were confiscated, according to organisations that support detainees. However, Serco said it only removed a dozen.As many as 90 copies of the book were confiscated, according to organisations that support detainees. However, Serco said it only removed a dozen.
Alice Wanja-Maina, who has been held in Yarl’s Wood since April, had arranged for new copies of the guide to be sent in. She told the Guardian: “I signed for them but then they took them away.Alice Wanja-Maina, who has been held in Yarl’s Wood since April, had arranged for new copies of the guide to be sent in. She told the Guardian: “I signed for them but then they took them away.
“The guides help us fight deportation and detention. The guards said you are not going to have them, that they were banned and that I was going to be deported back to Kenya. The book is really good. It helps us prepare our cases.“The guides help us fight deportation and detention. The guards said you are not going to have them, that they were banned and that I was going to be deported back to Kenya. The book is really good. It helps us prepare our cases.
“We don’t have lawyers to help us. This gives us the confidence to carry on. To be enclosed in a detention centre like this is really bad. They treat us like animals. I can’t sleep.“We don’t have lawyers to help us. This gives us the confidence to carry on. To be enclosed in a detention centre like this is really bad. They treat us like animals. I can’t sleep.
“I suffered rape and torture in Kenya at the hands of a traditional African organisation which is opposed to western culture. I can’t go back.” Wanja-Maina is waiting for a tribunal hearing.“I suffered rape and torture in Kenya at the hands of a traditional African organisation which is opposed to western culture. I can’t go back.” Wanja-Maina is waiting for a tribunal hearing.
Cristel Amiss, of the Black Women’s Rape Action Project which supports inmates at Yarl’s Wood, said: “People inside are really dependent on the guide. It looks like the guards or managers have taken the law into their own hands.Cristel Amiss, of the Black Women’s Rape Action Project which supports inmates at Yarl’s Wood, said: “People inside are really dependent on the guide. It looks like the guards or managers have taken the law into their own hands.
“This book has gone into detention centres across the country. If people stop getting support like this it will be easier to deport them. It’s particularly useful for women who have survived rape.“This book has gone into detention centres across the country. If people stop getting support like this it will be easier to deport them. It’s particularly useful for women who have survived rape.
“People are traumatised by what they have gone through. The guide makes it clear that even at a late stage if you speak about it, it can be important for reopening your claim.”“People are traumatised by what they have gone through. The guide makes it clear that even at a late stage if you speak about it, it can be important for reopening your claim.”
Earlier this month the Home Office suspended the fast-track sytem for detaining those facing deportation before their cases had been finally decided. Dozens of women were released from Yarl’s Wood. Earlier this month, the Home Office suspended the fast-track sytem for detaining those facing deportation before their cases had been finally decided. Dozens of women were released from Yarl’s Wood.
Niki Adams of Legal Action for Women, who coordinated the original publication, said: “This book is a lifesaving tool. There’s very little other help for people who are in detention and feel very isolated. These are basic rights which say that you can claim asylum if you have suffered persecution.”Niki Adams of Legal Action for Women, who coordinated the original publication, said: “This book is a lifesaving tool. There’s very little other help for people who are in detention and feel very isolated. These are basic rights which say that you can claim asylum if you have suffered persecution.”
A Serco spokesman said: “A dozen of the books ... were received at Yarl’s Wood on Friday. Given the nature of some of the content, as is normal procedure, we sought advice from the Home Office on whether the books should be allowed in the centre.A Serco spokesman said: “A dozen of the books ... were received at Yarl’s Wood on Friday. Given the nature of some of the content, as is normal procedure, we sought advice from the Home Office on whether the books should be allowed in the centre.
“We have ... received advice from the Home Office that they should be allowed so the books will now be available to residents.” The Home Office confirmed that the books were being returned.“We have ... received advice from the Home Office that they should be allowed so the books will now be available to residents.” The Home Office confirmed that the books were being returned.