May 2002 Campsfield Monitor

Newsletter of the Contents Campaign to Campsfield to Close 1 Close Campsfield Protest Works! 2 The Campsfield: News & Updates 4 Bail for Immigration Detainees 5 Asylum & Immigration: the big picture 5 Summary of BWB’s Response to the white paper 6 Barbed Wire Britain 7 Campsfield The New Jargon: Accommodation & Removals Centres 8 Swamped! 8 Bicester’s Accommodation Centre 9 May Yarl’s Wood Cover Up? 10 Open Borders - review 11 2002 Terrorism Law & Refugees 11 Monitor Campaign Info & Contacts 12 www.closeCampsfield.org.uk Campsfield to Close! "I can also confirm that I intend to close Campsfield House. This outdated centre is no longer appropriate in the 21st century. These places will be transferred to the new high- standard removal centres." David Blunkett, Home Secretary, speech to the House of Commons 7th Feb 2002 The unexpected announcement came It certainly looks like that, so the amidst the Home Secretary's speech decision is useful for future unveiling the new white paper on campaigning against detention!" Asylum and Immigration. The The Campaign also pointed out that Campaign, now in its ninth year, of new, bigger detention centres are course welcomed the news to the being opened and more innocent extent the closure will mean one refugees and other migrants are being fewer detention centre and "'s detained (Yarl's Wood: 900, Shame" (Oxford Mail) will be no more. Harmondsworth 550, Dover 400). The However, in the context of Blunkett's new generation of mega detention speech advocating increased centres, Yarl's Wood (which prior to detention capacity, it was clear from the recent fire was Europe's biggest) the out set that this did not represent and Harmondsworth may have bigger a softening of the government's gyms but they are still prisons, with policy of detaining asylum seekers. even tighter security. As a BBC report pointed out, the They are still an abuse of the basic "controversial" centre has been right not to be imprisoned if you are "dogged by problems", including innocent or not charged with crime. "riots, fires and hunger strikes" which Detention is increasing not have broken out at Campsfield since decreasing, with all the clinical it opened in the mid-90s. Could it be depression it causes among detainees, that Campsfield is one problem that the despair and powerlessness it Blunkett is no longer prepared to deal engenders, and the racist thoughts with? Close Campsfield's Bill Mackeith words and deeds this act of state said, "The closure decision is most racism engenders in the UK likely to be down to the continuous population. protest from inside and outside Campsfield.

www.closecampsfield.org.uk 1 Campsfield Monitor May 2002

If Campsfield is "outdated" (the reason being given for its closure) then most of the other detention centres should be closed too as they Protest Works! are older (some were built in the nineteenth century!). Detainees, most of the time, bear their imprisonment with extraordinary fortitude. Nevertheless its bitter injustice Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and has led in many cases to severe depression, to long-time critic of government listlessness and despair, and in some cases to suicides detention policy, said: "This is a and suicide attempts. It has also led to a series of mixed blessing. Many people will be glad to see the back of Campsfield protests, hunger strikes and attempts to escape. House as a symbol of the Government's oppressive, irrational There have been hunger strikes in Hunger Strikes and unnecessary detention regime for practically every other refugee prison, Early in 1994, after some asylum refugees. Campsfield House has had a but they have not been on the same seekers detained at Pentonville prison chequered history, including two scale as at Campsfield. And, until had won release with a hunger strike, highly critical reports from two Yarl's Wood, there were no mass ten Algerians, including one woman, successive HM Chief Inspectors of protests elsewhere. In addition, went on hunger strike at Campsfield Prisons, Judge Stephen Tumim and Sir outside Campsfield, protest has been and were eventually freed. This was David Ramsbotham. Many people in sustained for over eight years. The followed by a mass hunger strike, in the area see Campsfield House as a May 25 demonstration will be the which 180 if the 200 detainees at symbol of an unreasonably harsh 100th and there have been camps, Campsfield took part. At the approach to refugees. A significant marches, letters calling for the freeing beginning of the strike several of number of those refugees now work of detainees from Oxford university them broke out into a courtyard and in our schools and hospitals. professors, support for individuals climbed on to the roof, where they Unreasonable detention of asylum from Asylum Welcome, and much could communicate with seekers is an unnecessary cost to the media coverage of the "notorious" demonstrators outside. Others in taxpayer." Campsfield. It is impossible other detention centres and to avoid the conclusion Following the events at Yarl's Wood prisons followed their that all this was, in (see page 10), which deprived the example. After reality, the reason The May 25th 2002 Home Secretary of almost one quarter several weeks 15 of for the demonstration will be the of his promised places of detention, the Campsfield government's Campsfield House is at full capacity. 100th and there have been hunger strikers decision to close The government has announced that described as Campsfield. camps, marches, letters calling the centre will close by the end of "ringleaders" April 2003 and that this will not be for the freeing of detainees... It is were removed to Escapes Winson Green, affected by the fire at Yarl's Wood. In Before razor impossible to avoid the conclusion fact, the recent fire at Yarl's Wood has Bullingdon and wire was added that all this was, in reality, the Blakenhurst prompted insurance companies to to Campsfield's reason for the government's prisons. Some refuse to insure detention centres run high fences, there by Group 4, so this may force decision to close were put in were over a dozen isolation cells and all Campsfield to close even earlier. escape attempts, Campsfield. ended up on hospital The Campaign to Close Campsfield some of them wings. Two were put in will continue to demonstrate outside successful. Although the bare strip cells as suicide razor wire appeared to make the centre on the last Saturday of the risks, deprived of all their belongings month as it has done tirelessly for 8 escape impossible, two Indian including books and toothbrushes, years. The Campaign still has much refugees threatened with deportation, given only an indestructible tunic and astonishingly, attempted it; one work to do if we are to prevent the left shivering on the bare floor, a Government's cavalier approach severely gashed his legs; the other fell method of physical prevention of towards refugees: we suspect this will on his head and was in hospital for suicide which has since been ruled many weeks. In January 2002, just not be the final edition of the inadmissible. They eventually Campsfield Monitor. before closure was announced, five abandoned their hunger strike Romanian refugees without being escaped successfully released. Since then (see page 4) there have been several more hunger strikes at Campsfield, none on so large a scale; the latest was Outside Campsfield in September 2001. in November 1998

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Group 4 donned their riot gear, numerous police and extra guards were brought in, and, so the government claimed, a further £100,000 of material damage was caused by detainees. Mike O'Brien, Home Office Immigration Minister, issued an inflammatory press statement headed "BURNING BOOKS - IN A MOMENT OF MADNESS", ignoring the fact that library facilities were burned by one individual who was never identified by the authorities. "The detainees", he said, "destroyed their own facilities". Ten West African young men were charged with riot, and acquitted (see page 4).

Protests In May 1997, when an On 5 June 1994 a mass protest Algerian falsely accused followed the summary removal for of sexual harassment deportation of Ali Tamarat, an was removed to Winson Algerian. His friends climbed onto a Green prison, his roof to protest; others came out into friends, after spending the courtyard. During a long night the morning "talking they caused material damage which and talking", decided to the government claimed amounted to climb onto a roof to £100,000. Group 4 left out a ladder demand his return. which was used by six detainees to They stayed on the roof escape; a seventh was badly injured all night and most of when an immigration officer pulled the next day, with a the ladder from underneath him; later little food and some detainees recaptured the ladder and blankets passed up to another five people escaped. Group 4 them by detainees below. About one A further protest took place took fled and barricaded themselves in hundred other detainees, refusing to place at the end of 2001, when their offices. Riot police were called. be locked into their rooms, broke out detainees reacted angrily to the One of the Algerians on the roof was into a courtyard and were eventually refusal of immigration officials to seen jumping, head first, off it. The locked into another wing. Extra meet them to respond to their Home Office admitted only five Group 4 guards were bussed into grievances. A fire was started. Some serious injuries. Twenty-two Campsfield in riot gear. Eventually detainees were removed to Yarl's detainees were dispersed to various the rooftop protesters were forced Wood, where they were further prisons. Some of the Group 4 guards down by the cold and the rain. They traumatised by the much more severe who run Campsfield have since been were transferred to Winson Green, fire of February 14 2002. equipped with riot gear. Rochester and Tinsley House. On August 20 1997, there was The closure of another mass protest, triggered by the early morning removal of two Campsfield shows that West African detainees. One of them was ill, resisted and woke everybody protest works. with his cries of pain. The detainees Celebration will be who saw his removal thought he was being strangled, and demanded to possible when all know why the two were being removed. Eventually nearly all of the immigration detainees were outside in the courtyard protesting and displaying detainees, who are placards saying they were not now in greater criminals. numbers and worse

Beside tthe first prisons elsewhere, win Campsfield Protest Camp in May 2001 their freedom.

www.closecampsfield.org.uk 3 Campsfield Monitor May 2002 Campsfield: News and Updates In general, the immigration service seems to have adopted a policy of moving detainees from one holding centre or prison, to another, often at Campsfield 9 very short notice and at difficult times (eg. one man in Campsfield was After the mass protest at Campsfield woken at 3am recently to be moved). No choice is given and usually no in 1997, nine West Africans were explanation about why. Immigration detainees are being sent to prisons on picked out and charged with riot, a regular basis again now in spite of Blunkett's assertion that this practice which carries a ten-year maximum was "shameful" and would be stopped. Visitors are finding more cases of sentence. The Campaign to Close severe depression than previously and are concerned that treatment Campsfield organised a defence available to detainees is inadequate. campaign and at the trial lawyers were able to show that virtually all the Group 4 witnesses had concocted stories and told lies, and that they Campsfield Five Escape had themselves been responsible for Five Romanian asylum seekers some of the material damage Protest Camps escaped from Campsfield complained of. Eventually the The campaign has organised several Centre in prosecution dropped the case, saying illegal protest camps near January 2002. A police search that it 'was based mainly on eye Campsfield's main entrance, on helicopter, twenty-one officers and witness statements' by Group 4 grassland owned by the Ministry of two police dogs were brought in to guards, and that: 'No prosecution Defence, visible and accessible to search the surrounding area when the properly conducted could or should families and other visitors. five were discovered missing. A hole invite a jury to convict on that The latest was a three-week 'No in the perimeter fence was evidence'. Some of the Nine are suing Borders' camp in the summer of discovered, leading investigators to Group 4 for malicious prosecution. 2001 (in solidarity with believe that they received outside The proceedings grind slowly on. European No Borders assistance. The Home Office Network camps on the Brown Immigration Department Polish-German border, confirmed the escape. Home Office Pays on the Spanish border Knows but Bill MacKeith, with North Africa, In a press conference in Spokesperson for the Compensation and at Frankfurt Washington, Gordon Brown Close Campsfield airport). Campers said the budget contained a Campaign and to Algerian higher growth prediction President of the Lawyers Bhatt Murphy have painted FREEDOM successfully sued the Home Office for on walls, one of because net immigration was Oxford Trades Union higher. This also meant Council, expressed his wrongfully imprisoning an Algerian them inside the outer for three months after they were in razor wire fences, and that tax increases could support for the five: be £2 billion less. "We are glad that five of possession of all the information systematically changed which enabled them, eventually, to all the road signs to the wrongfully imprisoned detainees are now free." He grant him refugee status. This makes Campsfield 'House' to 'Prison'. a mockery of the assertion that The police searched unsuccessfully also added: "I personally am sorry that the rest of them did not escape." people are detained at Campsfield for bolt croppers and paint, and because the Home Office have made two arrests when campers evidence that they will abscond. The disrupted Group 4's shift change. Home Office, presumably wishing to In July 2001 the Wombles planned a avoid publicity, settled out of court. mass camp, advertising its intention Chicken Pox 'Aggravating circumstances' of the to break down the fence, but were case were that the Algerian, who had stopped by a huge police operation. Outbreak complained to Group 4 and A large number of detainees in We plan another, one-week camp, at immigration officials that Group 4 an undisclosed destination leaving Campsfield House caught chickenpox were showing pornographic videos in from the 25 May demonstration. in July 2001. Some of the detainees the room next to the one in which that caught the disease were removed Bring sleeping bags and tents! The detainees were praying, was European No Borders Network is from Campsfield, and the Home transferred with three others to also organising a camp at Office stopped sending asylum Winson Green, a high security prison seekers to the centre until the Strasbourg, the site of the Schengen in Birmingham. He spent three Information System, on July 19-28. outbreak was over. months in Winson Green. The four Contact: www.noborder.org were accused by Group 4 of setting fire to a toilet, an allegation which the 2002 Campsfield Protest Home Office had to admit was Camp: Noon Sat 25th May baseless.

4 www.closecampsfield.org.uk May 2002 Campsfield Monitor Bail for Immigration Detainees Bail for Immigation Detainees (BID) has been campaigning BID has offices in London, Gosport for bail rights. Automatic bail hearings were provided for and Oxford. The Oxford office deals with detainees at Campsfield. BID in the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act, but never Oxford opened last year and has had implemented. BID is very alarmed by the increasing lots of success lately. Three people number of detainees held under Immigration Act powers recently obtained Temporary (there will be 4000 detention places by Spring 2003). Admission (this is better than bail, as it involves no reporting restrictions) and 2 were bailed in our best week so Detainees are entitled to apply for Since BID was set up in 1998, we have made over 500 bail applications and far! One who was granted Temporary bail so that they may live at liberty Admission was only 16 years old but while their asylum applications are campaigned against arbitrary detention, the use of detention for Immigration Services didn't believe processed, but there is no automatic him. He is now staying in Oxford and right to a bail hearing. In BID's children and on issues such as the requirement for sureties. BID is being supported by Oxfordshire experience there are considerable Social services. Another to get obstacles to obtaining release from supported by charitable trusts, individual donations and support in Temporary Admission was a detention and basic procedural Zimbabwean who has been in guarantees that would ensure kind from volunteers and pro bono advocates. Trained volunteers detention since arrival, which was 16 protection from arbitrary detention months ago. He is a Christian and has are not in place. As a result, people undertake case work and administration, and there are five spent Christmas for the last two years who have committed no crime, in detention. including children and vulnerable paid staff. adults with mental and physical health problems, some as a result of For more information on BID, torture, are being deprived of their liberty and held indefinitely in Email: [email protected]. detention. Anyone interested in volunteering or offering local support should contact the BID Oxford Office on Tel 0845 3304536 Fax 0845 3304537

Asylum & Immigration: the big picture

Much has happened since The detention of asylum seekers One of Blunkett's first moves as the last edition of the without reason and time limit is Home Secretary was to end the monitor: too much to arguably a breach of the Right to voucher scheme, which singled out Liberty under the European asylum seekers as "sub-citizens". recount here in full. Convention on Human Rights and, in Tales of humiliation abounded, such Most notably on February 7 this year, effect, also contravenes one of our as the supermarket checkout cashier David Blunkett announced that own most basic principles of justice: a who refused to allow the assistance of Campsfield is to be closed (see page defendant is innocent until proven another shopper trying to provide an 1) The Asylum and Immigration Act guilty. Unfortunately, loop-holes have additional few pennies to prevent an 1999, despite proudly bearing the been found or made to legitimize the asylum seeker having to replace food official stamp of compatibility with detention of asylum seekers. Since after he had miscalculated the total the new Human Rights Act, contained 1999 a number of detention centres allowed by his voucher. The dispersal a catalogue of human rights abuses. have sprung up all over the country system has asylum seekers as targets Amongst other things, it paved the including, with 900 places, the for racism following the dispersal of way for a dramatic increase in the use infamous Yarl's Wood. (see page 10) refugees into poor and predominantly of detention of asylum seekers, for The 1999 Act also introduced some white communities, culminating in the first time introducing a statutory horrendous logistical errors and the death of an asylum seeker in power providing for the contracting outrages, (later virtually admitted by Glasgow last year as a result of a and management of detention the government itself) including the racist attack. centres. dispersal of asylum seekers and the introduction of food vouchers.

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Government condemnation of racism following the Lawrence Many of the members of Close Campsfield Campaign and Barbed Wire Britain are Inquiry appears to be yet opposed to immigration controls altogether. However, Barbed Wire Britain sent a another example of limp spin in response to the White Paper, proposing reforms to the Asylum system. light of the racism that inevitably flows from their Summary of Barbed Wire Britain's response insensitive and brutal asylum to the Government's Feb 2002 White Paper laws, and more recently the Home Secretary's comment that "Secure Borders, Safe Havens" our schools are "swamped" with Barbed Wire Britain is a network of • The option of "voucher-only" support must asylum seekers. independent campaigns against detention of be retained. Many asylum seekers obtain "Limp spin" is a tag that also asylum seekers and migrants. (See page X) accommodation with friends, relatives or applies to the new white paper, Barbed Wire Britain opposes the use of charities, reducing demand for NASS housing, and pressure on communities and "Secure Borders, Safe Haven: detention as a tool of immigration and asylum policy. public services in NASS dispersal areas. It is Integration with Diversity in Its impact on the people detained is detrimental. Current policy is at made possible only by the voucher-only Modern Britain", published in best arbitrary and at worst racist. Detention support system. February. A thin veneer of worsens the perception of asylum seekers as • Daily reporting is unjustified. concern for the plight of asylum criminals or illegal aliens. It places the UK in • Use of an accommodation centre must be seekers and appreciation of the breach of international obligations. It genuinely voluntary. "diversity" they contribute contradicts other stated aims of immigration covers a deeply disturbing policy. It is expensive, being driven by • Accommodation centres must be located, designed and managed to maximise tightening of the asylum private profit. Detention fails to achieve its integration of asylum seekers into the process. The most alarming stated ends. For example, the evidence community. aspect of the white paper is the shows no link between detention policy and the number of new asylum claims. • Leaving an accommodation centre should intention to establish four new Detention should be stopped. not jeopardize anyone's case. "accommodation centres" (see page 8) with a total capacity for We oppose the use of compulsion in • There must be time limits on residence in providing services to asylum seekers an accommodation centre. men, women and children. through induction centres. Those who do not stay • Legal services must be readily accessible. overnight at an accommodation In particular: The proposals for extensively increased centre will find their cases • Asylum seekers who can secure reporting requirements for all asylum jeopardized. Other major accommodation with relatives or friends, seekers represent an enormous financial and concerns include the abolition should not have to leave that emotional burden on asylum seekers. They accommodation to go to an induction centre. ignore the rights and needs of refugees, of automatic bail hearings to • There must be a clear statement that treating them only as objects to be challenge the detention of controlled, restrained, and processed. asylum-seekers. Another clear centres are a form of emergency accommodation only, offered to asylum On the issue of appeals, we welcome the end concern - despite the welcome seekers when non-institutional housing is of "certification" and proposals to reduce removal of food vouchers - is unavailable. There must be no element of delays in appeals. However, the White Paper that the cash-based system compulsion. wrongly assumes that it is asylum seekers perpetuates an unjust 'poverty- • There must be safeguards in place to who cause delays in the current system. We level' support provision roughly ensure that newly arrived asylum seekers are reject the argument for further changes to 30% less than that for non- not forced to complete critical interviews or appeal rights based on use of the Human asylum-seekers. decisions while exhausted by travel, stressed Rights Act by some refugees whose asylum claims had already been determined. We Perhaps most alarming of all is by flight, traumatised by the events which they have fled and disorientated by new condemn the use of inflexible time limits, the absence of measures to surroundings. and criticise specific time limits in NASS address shortcomings in the appeals. asylum application decision- • However, we welcome the proposal to provide health screening for new asylum All elements of compulsion in attendance or making procedure. In effect the seekers. residence at Oakington Reception Centre paper proposes that the should be discontinued and the closure of We criticise the proposal for application Immigration Appeal Tribunal the centre should be brought forward to registration cards (ARCs) for its emphasis will become a court of higher occur as soon as other, non-residential, on the processing of asylum seekers as an facilities for processing the applications can status. This will dramatically inanimate material. prevent the scope for review of be provided. We believe that the UK should house all its decision-making. In no other We oppose the use of forced removal of migrants in the community, to ease their area of English law is this asylum seekers who genuinely fear integration into community life. mistreatment in their countries of origin, allowed. To create a system Accommodation centres are a derogation which assumes its own whether or not that fear is shown to be for a from that principle and should not be Convention reason. We oppose the use of perfection is plain arrogant; to introduced. Barbed Wire Britain strongly detention as a part of the removal process. do so simply as a response to opposes the use of compulsion in assigning The proposed repeal of the bail provisions in the frequency with which review asylum seekers to accommodation centres, Part III of the 1999 Act should be reversed, is currently invoked is arguing that: and the provisions of that part should be outrageous and demonstrates a implemented in full. cavalier approach to justice.

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www.barbedwirebritain.org.uk Barbed Wire Britain +44 (0)1865 558145 +44 (0)1865 726804 The Barbed Wire Britain network +44 (0)1993 703994 was set up in January 2001 to: +44 (0)7767 414714 1. respond to the great increase in immigration detentions and deportations by campaigning against present and projected +44 (0)208 571 5019 places of detention Barbed Wire Britain 2. help set up new local campaigns near the places of detention 17c West End, , Oxon OX28 1NQ, United Kingdom 3. pool information and reports, and Local campaign details on the website 4. develop higher profile national campaigning against or by phoning the above. immigration detention.

It was set up by local anti-detention · worked alongside refugees and · jointly sponsored the Manchester campaigns with support from the other migrants including present and conference in March in support of National Coalition of Anti Deportation former detainees to amplify their refugees Campaigns (NCADC), Joint Council for voice. Voices From Detention, on the · jointly called the resulting week of the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), BWB website and in print, is an action in Refugee Week this June, Committee to Defend Asylum example of this. starting on the 15th with a Seekers, (CDAS), and National Civil · held a three-hour first meeting with demonstration at Harmondsworth Rights Movement (NCRM). the House of Commons All-Party (where a second 450-place detention Barbed Wire Britain (BWB) is based on Group on Refugees on 11th March centre is being built alongside the one years of campaigning specifically attended by 12 BWB representatives opened last summer) and ending with against immigration detention, locally from the local campaigns. This a demonstration in central London on and internationally, including for resulted in Early Day Motion 1048 the 22nd, with round-the-country example organising the Barbed Wire calling for a public inquiry into the local actions against detention during Europe conference held in Oxford in 14th February events at Yarl's the week. 2000 which brought together 160 Wood and an end to · submitted a response to people from 25 countries. This deportations of detainee Britain the Less Secure … white followed Europe Barbelée conferences witnesses. The next locks up more innocent paper on immigration, in France in 1997 and 1998. meeting is on 22nd focusing on detention. May. refugees and other Britain locks up more innocent · produced two refugees and other migrants for · continued to work migrants for longer, and excellent banners longer, and with less judicial with local and with less judicial oversight, which most recently oversight, than any other country in national organisations than any other country accompanied a Europe. BWB aims to highlight this such as trade and delegation of Dover and and assist in building opposition to student unions, in Europe. other UK anti-detention immigration detention on a European religious faith bodies, campaigners to Calais to scale. It will participate in this July's human rights and political join a demonstration against a "No Borders" camp at Strasbourg. It is organisations. Through this work new detention centre being built at also in touch with anti detention now five national unions call for an Coquelle. campaigners in the rest of Europe, end to immigration detention: the and in the US and Australia. Transport and General Workers Union · produced stickers and leaflets- (TGWU), National Union of Journalists available on request. (NUJ), National Association of · supplied speakers for meetings all Barbed Wire Britain has Teachers in Further and Higher over the country. · helped establish the new campaigns Education (NATFHE), the · received a pre-titles screen advert to close the Yarl's Wood and Dover Manufacturing Science Finance (MSF) for BWB and a generous cut from film centres. The Scots are campaigning section of Amicus, and UNISON. In poster sales on the national tour of strongly against the September 2001 the General Council Ken Loach's new Film Bread and immigration prison. There are of the Trades Union Congress Roses campaigns to close other principal supported a motion from the TGWU places of detention in the UK at calling for an end to immigration · sponsored the excellent new video Campsfield, Harmondsworth, Haslar detention. Barbed Wire Beat about the campaign to close Campsfield. and Oakington. Campaigns are yet to · held a national weekend of actions be established at Tinsley and against detention last September 22- Lindholm. 23.

www.closecampsfield.org.uk 7 Campsfield Monitor May 2002 The New Jargon: Accommodation and Removals Centres according to the Home Office website

According to the Home Office, Accommodation Centres are to be The Home Office has announced that distinguished from Removals Centres, which will be the new name one of these centres will be on land for detention centres. Removals Centres are those such as Yarl's vacated by MOD Logistics, Bicester, Wood where there was a fire on 14 February. Oxfordshire . The Home Office claim that In emotive language, the Home Office The Home Office goes on to claim Accommodation Centres will make it describes Yarl's Wood as a "secure that "Removals Centres have tight easier to stay in touch with asylum centre where we detain failed asylum security - which will be toughened up seekers while their applications are seekers and illegal immigrants under in the light of events on 14 February - under consideration. The new Centres lock and key before we deport them". but they are very different from will provide a wide range of services, In reality, the vast majority of people Accommodation Centres". including health care and separate detained at Yarl's Wood and other The Government is planning to set up education for children, who will not detention centres have not had their four Accommodation Centres for be able to go to local schools- so asylum cases determined. asylum seekers. The Centres are a much for integration with diversity. trial and together will provide 3000 The Home Office says it will not place places. people in an Accommodation Centre who they think "might run away". As to whether asylum seekers will in effect be detained in Accommodation Centres the Home Office state that Centres "will have clear rules, and residents will have good reason to Swamped! follow them. Anyone who breaks the rules will lose Below is a copy of a letter sent to the National support. Breaking the rules may also Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) affect their claim for asylum" and that in response to the latest Blunkett blunder… "people housed in Accommodation Centres will be free to come and go at will as long as they sleep there Dear NCADC, I am a qualified Accounting Technician overnight." It would seem then that (MAAT), Studying to be a qualified Insensitive words like the ones used by these Accommodation Centres are Chartered Accountant (ACCA), no the Home Secretary last week put many effectively open prisons. refugees' lives in danger. No wonder criminal convictions (Law abiding narrow-minded fascists are finding Citizen), taxpayer, voter, donor to The Home Office is also anxious to room and gaining popularity. The Home charities (Centrepoint Largest UK stress that "an Accommodation Secretary should have looked at the homelessness Organisation, Oxfam and Centre will not be a risk to the safety unrest in France due to anti- Local neighbourhood Credit Union). of local residents". Accommodation immigration and racists ideas I received a total of £2,340 in Centres will house people who "pose of a presidential candidate. "The state funds (Income no risk to anyone and who wish to support and Housing Of all the people in the home secretary, settle here legally". It also seems UK he should not have benefit), before David Blunkett, yesterday concerned to reassure the typical and used such words. finding work. My dug himself even deeper into often racist concerns of the general I came to UK in P60s total for last 6 the row over his claim that some public such as whether asylum October 1995 and tax years is £ seekers will take local jobs. Their have been fighting local schools were being "swamped" 15,000 (Tax & NI to stay here since. I by the children of asylum seekers Paid). Hope you solution is simply not to allow asylum get frustrated when when he unrepentantly accused his see my point why seekers to work unless they have had am angry to be I read news critics of being ridiculous and their applications for 6 months, and thatmillions of called 'good for have been unable to make a decision oversensitive" taxpayers' money is nothing immigrant'. on their case. used on refugees, and , Friday As a refugee myself I nobody says anything April 26 2002 care about others like It would seem that the Home Office's about how much working me and my message to fear of local reaction to the refugees like myself pay in everyone and my fellow Accommodation Centres is justified tax and National Insurance. I was refugees is 'Together We'll in the light of the initial racist on state funds for only 9 months Nov Overcome, Conquer, Prosper And Stand." response to the proposed Centre in 1995 to August 1996. I got a full-time Yours Sincerely, Bicester, where local residents have job and started college September 1996 W W set up a campaign. and have been a taxpayer since then.

8 www.closecampsfield.org.uk May 2002 Campsfield Monitor Bicester: the proposed site of Oxfordshire's Accommodation Centre

Local Bicester residents One resident, deeply concerned by the The upshot was that Tony Baldry, began their campaign STOP local reaction commented that "it is Bicester's Tory MP, launched his own important that this sort of racism and new and separate petition simply OPEN ASYLUM PLAN ignorance is opposed and I would demanding a full public enquiry into (S.O.A.P.) by displaying welcome any support from people in the plans. He managed to get 10000 garish pink posters with Oxford who would be interested in local signatures, one third of the following text in local helping to put the point of view of Bicester's total population, in just a asylum seekers. I'm sure that the few weeks. shops: enormous support for the petition is Now that the government has based largely on ignorance and fear STOP OPEN ASYLUM PLAN confirmed that the Bicester Centre is rather than conscious racism." to go ahead, Tony Baldry has called (S.O.A.P.) Fortunately, the situation has begun for the town to gather to demand a THIS MEANS YOU to change in Bicester, with the SOAP Public Enquiry on Sat 18 May at 4pm. THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING A campaign against the Accommodation The gathering will be on Pingle Field, 750 CAPACITY (MINIMUM) ASYLUM Centre publicly backtracking on the a playing field adjacent to the SEEKER CENTRE ON MINISTRY OF racist elements of its campaign. 'Bicester Village Designer Outlet DEFENCE LAND BETWEEN Following protests against the racist Centre'. The event is to be leafleted by ARNCOTT AND PIDDINGTON. posters by individuals and the local supporters of asylum seekers. The churches (but a shameful silence from Anti-Nazi League will also be present, WHAT WILL YOU GET? local politicians), the local with their leaflets targeting the 1) INCREASED CRIME ON PROPERTY newspapers reported a 'backlash' emerging BNP presence in Bicester. AND POSSESSIONS against the campaign's literature, and There will be a great deal of work to 2) ALREADY UNDER RESOURCED SOAP felt obliged publicly to distance do in the near future by anyone in POLICE UNABLE TO COPE themselves from the distribution of Oxfordshire who is concerned about 3) DIVERSION OF PUBLIC FUNDS BNP leaflets to local residents. Almost the welfare of asylum seekers. It is all of the offending posters were (TO YOUR DETRIMENT) hoped that a Bicester campaign will removed by local shopkeepers. 4) THREAT TO YOUR WAY OF LIFE encompass a broad alliance of groups, A local resident, supportive of asylum including local churches, experienced AND CULTURE seekers commented, " I think that the political activists and concerned 5) DEVALUATION OF YOUR timing of our condemnation was very residents. It will aim to ensure that PROPERTY (40%) fortunate as, just 3 days after the asylum seekers are given adequate 6) INCREASED INSURANCE local papers reported our support by the government, and are PREMIUMS (HOUSE AND CAR) disapproval, Le Pen succeeded in welcomed, rather than vilified, by going through to the second round of local residents. 7) BEGGING AND HARASSMENT the French elections. I think this gave EVERYWHERE enormous weight to what we were DON'T WALK AWAY saying, about the need to be ever- For more details vigilant against racism. I doubt Sign your Petition about how you can get involved whether we would have had so much with the Bicester campaign please HERE NOW! sway in normal circumstances, as email BicesterRefugeeSupport@ Bicester Action Group many people would have thought we btopenworld.com were exaggerating the danger."

Barbed Wire Beat (14mins VHS) A moving and dynamic journey through the years of campaigning against immigration detention at Campsfield Detention Centre in Oxfordshire.Showing the beat of resistance from the detainees and supporters in rooftop protests, hunger strikes, the Campsfield 9 court case and the international mobilisations against Barbed Wire Europe. Set to music from the Banner Theatre’s “Fortress Europe” CD, Barbed Wire Beat is important viewing for all those opposing the human rights abuse of immigration detention. £5 to individuals & immigration rights campaigns. £10 to organisations.

www.closecampsfield.org.uk 9 Campsfield Monitor May 2002 Yarl’s Wood Cover Up? Yarl's Wood was to be Europe's biggest refugee prison. It was built inside a military complex, with high security, notably a series of metal barriers in all the corridors so that moving around was extremely difficult.

Detainees who have been in both Since the fire, detainees who Campsfield and Yarl's Wood say that have tried to tell the world Yarl's Wood was much worse, and far what happened have been put more restrictive, in spite of its in solitary confinement, at deceptive external appearance which Yarl's Wood and at other led the tabloids to call it a five-star prisons. Many have been hotel. It held women, men, children dispersed to prisons around and babies. Like Campsfield, it was the country, where run by Group 4. communication is difficult or impossible. Some have been Tensions built up from the start. On deported, and others are February 14 these erupted when detainees saw, in an episode of a type threatened with deportation. MPs have put down an Early Day familiar to Campsfield campaigners, The women say that it was only Motion (EDM 1048) to try to stop this, an elderly woman being dragged because other detainees helped them along the ground by Group 4 guards. by breaking windows and finding and calling, not for a full public inquiry as campaigners had urged, The occupied half of the building was ways round the locked barriers that but for a 'public element' in destroyed in a fire, which apparently they managed to escape from the originated in a reception area to burning building. Their accounts are investigations. The Campaign To Stop Arbitrary Detentions at Yarl's Wood is which detainees did not have access. corroborated by detainees who asking people to write to their MPs to All the detainees have now been describe how they went to and fro moved out because insurance cover helping people to get out. get them to sign the motion. The police, the Immigration Service and has run out and can't be renewed. Once outside, detainees could see Group 4 are conducting their own, Several people escaped and were others trapped inside and pleaded recaptured. Ministers claim that secret, inquiries, whose results may with police (or possibly guards in riot or not be published on a date they twenty are still 'at large'. The tragedy gear) to help them. The officers will not disclose. is that some may have died rather simply stood there. As one woman than escaped. put it: In April campaigners' fears that, as happened at Campsfield, detainees A former Group 4 guard has told the “When I asked [detainees] what local newspaper that, when the fire would be arbitrarily picked out and officers were doing about this charged were unfortunately realised. started, ten Asians went to the prayer situation, they said there is no Ten detainees were charged with room. They have not been seen since. officers, cos they all ran away. I just The police do not expect to eliminate violent disorder. The Yarl's Wood couldn't believe it ... I saw that all campaign, with support from the the possibility of finding human doors and the gates (we had them Campaign to Close Campsfield, is remains at the site until the middle of along the whole corridors) were May. discussing with lawyers how to locked. No officers, no police, no fire prevent unjust convictions. They are If no-one was killed in the fire, it is no brigade or anybody else. Only organising vigils and demos, and thanks to Group 4. The fire service scared people everywhere. ... Then visiting and writing to many detainees was kept waiting outside for an hour. some male detainees were trying to - hampered by the unwillingness or Blunkett's claim that the detainees get people out of the building. If it inability of the authorities to say obstructed their access are hadn't been for them, we would all where they are. contradicted by the police and by the be burned in that fire.” fire service, who say it was, on the contrary, Group 4 who stopped them going in when the fire could have been controlled. Worse, over a dozen For information on demonstrations, actions and offers of help, contact detainees, several of them women, Campaign to Stop Arbitrary Detentions at Yarl's Wood have told visitors and friends that Tel: 07786 517379. or Post to PO Box 304, Oakley, Bedford, MK43 7WB. Group 4 locked doors and steel barriers and then abandoned them (in Email: [email protected] behaviour, again, familiar to www.stoparbitrarydetentionsatyarlswood.co.uk Campsfield campaigners).

10 www.closecampsfield.org.uk May 2002 Campsfield Monitor Open Borders: The case against Immigration Controls by Teresa Hayter (Pluto Press, 2000) Open Borders by Teresa Hayter looks at the growth of I am not totally convinced by this argument, but as numbers of asylum immigration controls since 1900, and makes a compelling seekers is so small I do not think that an case for the abolition of all border controls. increase would be a problem. It is also claimed (most famously by Hayter begins the book with a scholarly Hayter argues that the suffering caused by Margaret Thatcher) that by reassuring account of the history of migration the immigration controls is indefensible. people about the numbers we could patterns and the response to them in Border controls necessitate the routine eliminate racism. By this logic strict border Europe, and particularly Britain. She flouting of the Human Rights Act, controls should decrease racism. Instead studies the history of Britain's attempts to specifically those articles dealing with the they legitimize it and increase it. It is no legislate against immigration, and draws right to be free from inhumane or accident that black asylum seekers are on her own experience as a Close degrading treatment and arbitrary arrest treated very differently from white Campsfield activist to examine the present or imprisonment, the right to a trial, and immigrants from Europe or America. Can response to asylum seekers, including the right to work. As most people do not you see a white American moving to this detention. Open Borders provides an want to leave their country of birth and country being placed in detention? The insight into the international movement to are forced to, by economic hardship or controls are racist and are based on an promote the human rights of immigrants, oppression, it is terrible that they face this assumption of the desirability of a focusing on Britain and the French sans- inhuman treatment when they arrive at homogenous society. The media also papiers movement. She ends the book with our borders. target asylum seekers, with the result that an argument why we should abolish all One of the reasons that are given for the racist attacks upon asylum seekers are border controls on humanitarian and imposition of immigration controls is becoming more and more common. economic grounds. numbers. It is claimed that if we do not Teresa Hayter's Open Borders offers a Open Borders reveals the history of British have controls then we will be 'swamped' by clear and readable introduction to the border controls to be shocking for its a 'flood' of refugees. Hayter dismisses this politics of border controls that balances overt racism. But what is most interesting claim. She asserts that border controls well researched factual insight with an to me about the book was its argument for have very little impact on the numbers of activist's passion. I would recommend the abolition of all border controls. immigrants and that open borders would reading it! facilitate return immigration and encourage emigration. Reviewed by Laura Lawson

Terrorism Legislation Threatens Asylum Rights

The UK and EU's recent expansion of terrorism legislation is a threat Asylum seekers are now faced with a to democracy and asylum rights. Its powers of search, arrest and double edged sword, they are liable to detention are wide ranging and its definition broad enough to criminal proceedings if they admit to membership of a banned group, and likely encompass virtually any form of political dissent and protest. Even to be deported if they do not. wearing a t-shirt expressing support for a banned organisation, such Minority and refugee communities as the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) who have operated a cease fire supporting liberation struggles of for over two years, is a potential terrorist offence. The terrorism laws oppressed peoples in countries that the are formalising the criminalisation of communities brought about by UK government's trade policies designate the government's racist immigration policy. as friendly are effectively criminalised by the act. The Institute of Race Relations recent The Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism Under the act, even professing to be a report, 'Racism: the hidden cost of as the use or threat of action involving member of a proscribed organisation can September 11', identified asylum seekers violence against property or people or be taken to be an offence, or organising a and Europe's Muslim communities as serious risk to health and safety, designed meeting of more than three people at those most likely to suffer from the EU's to influence any government or intimidate which a member of a proscribed new terrorism laws and their denial of civil members of the public anywhere in the organisation is given a platform. liberties. The report highlighted the effect world for political, religious or ideological Membership of groups such as the the "war on terrorism" is having in causes. It allows the home secretary to ban Mujahedin in Iran or PKK has been boosting the far right, and contributing to any organisation seen as a threat to the grounds for granting asylum in the UK. the intense atmosphere of intimidation of national security of the country, which is Muslim communities in the wake of commonly agreed to include threats to 'friendly countries' including Israel, Turkey September 11. and Sri Lanka, who have placed the Find out more about the impacts of Terrorism legislation on asylum rights at: government under great pressure to clamp down on groups such as the Kurds, Tamils Campaign Against Criminalising Communities www.cacc.org.uk and Palestinians, fighting against severe Statewatch www.statewatch.org oppression and for their right to self Oppose the Terrorism Act www.blagged.freeserve.co.uk/ta2000/fhome.htm determination.

www.closecampsfield.org.uk 11 Campsfield Monitor May 2002 Campaign to Close Campsfield Campsfield House is an Immigration Detention Centre There are up to 200 detainees in at , six miles from Oxford. It is a prison run Campsfield House at any one time. Most are political refugees fleeing danger, for private profit by Group 4, supervised by Home torture and even death from countries Office immigration officials. It used to be a youth such as Nigeria, Algeria, Afghanistan, detention centre, but it re-opened as an Immigration Turkey, Iraq, the former Yugoslavia and Detention Centre in November 1993. The local parish Zimbabwe. They are held without charge, without time limit, without proper council was opposed to it, but their wishes were reasons given, and without proper access overruled by the Home Office. to legal representation. Amnesty International report that these are breaches of internationally recognised human rights. We’d rather lock nurses in a burning The Close Campsfield campaign aims to: prison than risk letting any ·Close Campsfield, other detention refugees escape centres, and detention wings in prisons; ·Stop immigration detentions and imprisonment; Group 4 Securitas run Yarl's Wood detention centre for asylum seekers in ·Stop racist deportations; Bedfordshire, England. ·Repeal immigration laws which Group Fear - On Thursday, February reinforce racism. 14th 2002 a fire broke out and a number of inmates escaped. Witnesses suggest The Campaign to Close Campsfield is that trouble started when an elderly supported by refugee organisations, woman seeking medical attention was trades unions, political parties, student seen handcuffed and being dragged across a floor by Group 4 staff. Staff organisations and religious groups. were seen locking corridors and then leaving. The detainees had to break windows to rescue each other. Once outside they were pushed and kicked How you can get involved back inside by Group 4 riot officers. We hold monthly campaign planning meetings on the first Tuesday of every Grope 4 - A senior firefighter said ‘It was absolutely atrocious. There must be month from 7pm at Oxford Town Hall. emergency plans regarding fire, riot, and Everyone is welcome. unrest. Why did it take so long for the plans to be implemented?’ Detainees We demonstrate outside Campsfield on found and rescued several nurses the last Saturday of every month. These locked in the medical unit. Some Group demos are from 12 noon to 2pm at the 4 staff, abandoned by their colleagues, main gates, Langford Lane, Kidlington have written to detainees to thank them (Oxford bus, 2B/C or D, or lifts from for rescuing them. outside Debenhams at 11:30). Group Fraud - The Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable said in a letter to You can affilitate to the Close the Home Office that the police search Campsfield Campaign as an individual or for bodies may be hampered by Group 4's 'haphazard record keeping'. The an organisation. The cost of joining / Home Office has deported at least one affiliation for individuals is £5 (£3 detainee who had been held in unwaged) a year. The cost for groups is segregation after the fire, and has tried £10, or £20 a year (to include minutes of to deport another key witness currently meetings). You can send cheques made being held in prison. out to: The Campaign to Close Greed 4 - Group 4 is a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) partner with the New Campsfield. Labour Government, currently making a You can also contact us by phone on profit from running prisons and detention centres, and branching out 01865 558 145or 01865 726 804 or into hospitals and even schools. 01993 703 994 For more information: If you would like more information about the Close Campsfield Campaign or how www.barbedwirebritain.org.uk SAFETY’S SAKE www.corporatewatch.org.uk to get involved, please see our website. ...the complete insecurity solution. www.closecampsfield.org.uk

12 www.closecampsfield.org.uk