The Campsfield Monitor
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November 2003 www.closeCampsfield.org.uk The Campsfield Monitor Newsletter of the Campaign to Close Campsfield BLUNKETT'S SPECTACULAR U-TURN Campsfield set to expand! The next ten years? It was carried by 28 votes to 8 with 10 abstentions. Labour Councillors led by Liz Brighouse opposed the motion When the Home Secretary, David or abstained, councillor Chris Robbins Blunkett, made his of Kidlington being the only one of announcement on 7th February their number to speak in favour. As 2002, that Campsfield would well as being wrong, their stance close by 2004 because it was contradicts the policy of the 4 out of "outdated" and "inappropriate 6 constituency Labour Parties in for the 21st century" it was Oxfordshire which have affiliated to greeted by supporters of the the Campaign to Close Campsfield Campaign to Close Campsfield and consistently argued against with joy but also a dose of detention. The councillors' action is scepticism - a scepticism now being taken up in the Labour Party. shown to be spot on. Rooftop protest at start of mass hunger Just two months later, in April last strike at Campsfield. March 1994. What now? year, it was announced that the After ten years of campaigning, the closure would be delayed because of Local reaction of shock and dismay Close Campsfield Campaign has no the dearth of detention places created was reflected by the resolution to the choice but to carry on. Campsfield by the fire at Yarl's Wood. But Yarl's County Council by Liberal Democrat may not be a household name but it is Wood reopened in September of this councillor Janet Godden, that: "This a surprisingly well known one. year - and Campsfield did not close. Council was shocked at the Campsfield has a prominent position Worse was to come: Just a few weeks announcement by the Minister for in the Detention Hall of Shame. When ago, as the Close Campsfield immigration on 22nd October 2003 of the first detainees were bussed in Campaign was beginning to gear up her plans to increase the number of from Harmondsworth on 29 for the 10th anniversary of the places at Campsfield House November 1993, it was the first Centre's opening, the minister for immigration detention centre from substantial purpose-built detention "Citizenship and Immigration", 184 to 290. Council resolves to write accommodation in Britain. The other Beverley Hughes, announced that to the Home Secretary, reminding him centres were smaller: Haslar was a Campsfield was to stay open and be of his undertaking in February 2002 former naval prison and expanded from 184 to 290 places. to close this detention centre, and Harmondsworth not much more than This was a spectacular U-turn by the calling on him to do so without some old huts. Government. delay." 10 YEARS TOO LONG! Contents: 5 War on Asylum: recent 11 Bail for Immigration developments Detainees 1 Campsfield to Expand 7 New Labour - Tough on 12 Yarl’s Wood Update 3 Campaign Work in 2003 Crime, Tougher on Asylum 13 No One is Illegal 3 Number Crunching - Seekers 14 Barbed Wire Britain Migration Watch 8 10 year Photo Gallery 15 Bicester’s Protests 4 Oxford Racial Equality 10 Stars support bail for 16 Campaign Information Council refugees & Contact details www.closecampsfield.org.uk 1 Campsfield Monitor Nov 2003 At Campsfield, on the other hand, The answer to "What Now?" is to £20m had been spent expanding what Carry On, but do so with an had been a youth detention centre. awareness that much has changed Campsfield was heralded by the since 1993. Detention is one of the Tories as a "state of the art" centre most extreme forms of state racism- when it opened. It soon became discrimination on grounds of race. notorious. The government excluded Almost at once there were protests Immigration matters from being from inside Campsfield, letters to the covered by its most recent Race centre manager, or Immigration, or a Relations Act. The Conservatives minister, petitions signed by many increased the "detention estate" from detainees, some of the biggest mass around 350 in 1993 to 700 in 1997. hunger strikes in the country's history Since then Labour has capped that and the uprisings or riots of 1994 and easily: nearly 2,000 places now, half 1997. The campaign to close way to the government target of 4,000 Campsfield has helped to magnify places (excluding immigration these protests and got a national detainees in H.M. prisons proper). profile by being active in many arenas There are new mega centres (Europe's using many methods. largest) at Yarl's Wood and Harmondsworth. In other words, campaigning against detention is arguably an even higher priority than in 1993. Demonstration at a preliminary hearing for the Campsfield 9. Oxford Crown, Court Feb 9th 1998. Campsfield Hunger strike, Local and National 1998. With the resources built up locally in Young people and students have been key campaigning to close Campsfield and in to some of the most lively campaigning in supporting refugees in Oxford, we have a the past. What about those university job to do to continue offering assistance in academics, 100 of whom signed a letter to the setting up of new local anti detention The Times in 1994 calling for Campsfield groups, and contributing to national to close? Time to say so again! In 1993 no campaigns and lobbies concerning not just national trade union opposed detention. detention but also racism and chauvinism Now, largely as a result of the work of in government and the media, and wider supporters of the Campaign to Close issues concerning refugees and migration. Campsfield at least eight do, but with The single most useful aspect of this may effort we can make that more. There must be to ensure that we work more closely be new methods to try out or supporters with refugees and other migrants, whether in different fields to tap. Strengthening the current or former detainees, as it is they link with the very strong campaign in who will provide the strength and impetus Scotland against Dungavel will be useful that will force changes for the better in on both sides of the border. And there is their predicament, through their own the smaller Maghaberry prison with its organisations. In and around Oxford, we detention places in the north of Ireland to will need to do a bit of getting "back to connect with. Finally, the Campsfield angle basics". Fresh and intensified approaches will continue to be important in the will need to be made to local Oxfordshire national and international movement trade unions, political, student, faith and against detention in ways referred to community organisations through street elsewhere in a report on Barbed Wire stalls, public meetings and talks in schools Britain. and colleges. 2 www.closecampsfield.org.uk Nov 2003 Campsfield Monitor The most recent ride was promoted by Oxford Trades Union Council, whose Campaign work in 2003 president joined the ride with local members of the teachers, post office The monthly demonstrations at Campsfield’s main gate have carried workers and local authority workers on since the announcement of closure. Sometimes the numbers have unions. There are signs of renewed been around 10 or less, but there is always a useful exchange of news student activity among Oxford University and planning between people from different places (not just Oxford students. The Oxford University Labour but also the ever present Marxist Party from Coventry and others). Club has run a Students Against Campsfield Stall in Cornmarket and the The high point of the demo is always For two years running, the campaign has Student Action for Refugees (STAR) group making a lot of noise round the back, over had a stall at the Cowley Road Carnival, is visiting detainees at Campsfield and its the fence from the detainees' yard. - a this year alongside refugee support members will join the bike ride on 29th chance for shouted exchanges with the organisations in Oxford, and at the November. detainees who get a lift from the November One World fair in Oxford Town Campaign supporters distributed a leaflet outspoken remarks and tolerate our hall. headed "Why you should NOT work for efforts at singing and music. More Campaign supporters played a big part in Group 4" to those going into a Group 4 accomplished visiting singers and helping during the setting up of the recruitment day at the Oxford Job Centre musicians are of course appreciated Bicester Refugee Support group, which in Gloucetser Green in October. without irony. countered the initially simply chauvinist Following the "Campsfield to stay" The meeting organised with Oxfordshire Bicester Action Group opposing the siting announcement, we have started a mass Race Equality Council (see page 4) was a of a 750-place "accommodation centre" at letter writing campaign calling on Mr step forward, and a victory after years of Piddington outside Bicester. The Campaign Blunkett to abide by his February 2002 pressure from the campaign. It was a far also helped to bring BRS and Asylum closure statement. Copies of the letter are cry from the only other OREC meeting on Welcome together to make an impressive available. The Campaign was one of Campsfield, in about 1997, which joint presentation to the public inquiry around 80 signatories to a big Campaign shamefully was addressed only by Group 4 into the centre proposal, where BRS and Against Legal Aid Cuts (CALAC) advert and Immigration officials - they got a very AW were represented by Michael Hall. that appeared recently in the Guardian, dusty reception. Two bike rides have been organised jointly calling for legal aid for asylum seekers not Members of the campaign have spoken at with BRS to make the connection in the to be cut back, and was represented at the numerous meetings, sometimes using the public mind between Campsfield and meeting at which that campaign was set portable exhibition panels we have.