26.03.94 Demonstrators climb fence, reach roof 21 years of resistance and stay for 12 hours. Ali Tamarat, former to immigration detainee and hunger striker, speaks at demonstration and on TV. Two days later he is detention at Campsfield re-detained. 24.05.94 Detainee seen being deported 25.11.93 First immigration detainees brought handcuffed and mouth taped up. Already ill from Harmondsworth detention centre. 12 before her transfer, the doctor at Holloway demonstrators meet minibuses at Campsfield prison refused her and she had to be taken to main gates and demand freedom for detainees. Whittington hospital. 25.05.94 Detainees extract promise from Almost at once there were protests by those Immigration Service staff in Campsfield that there would be no more unannounced held inside Campsfield, and for 21 years there have been individual and collective deportations. protests by detainees including signed 4.06.94 600 people demonstrate outside statements to the authorities, and mass Campsfield; human rights camp set up. hunger strikes. 5.06.94 Mass revolt in Campsfield by detainees Monthly demonstrations (last Saturday at following deportation of Ali Tamarat without noon) and monthly public meetings in warning. 11 detainees escape. Many protest on Oxford’s Town Hall (first Tuesday, 7.30pm) rooftop. Riot police are sent in. 22 detainees moved to prison after protest. At least five now both number over 250. detainees injured

9.07.94 Camp for human rights evicted from 16,17.12.93 Town centre demo; Public meeting outside main gates of Campsfield (erected against Campsfield in Oxford Town Hall. 04.06.94). 23.12.93 169 visitors from Jamaica (an entire August letter from 86 Oxford academics to the plane-load, including an immigration officer) Prime Minister: ‘[These people] who are are detained on arrival. 40 are detained in innocent of any crime, should not be detained. Campsfield over Christmas. We certainly do not find it acceptable that they 10.01.94 Campaign to Close Campsfield should be detained without trial, without time launched with support from Oxford Trades limit and with little chance of bail, and thus Union Council, other union branches and church treated worse than common law criminals.’ bodies. 27.09.94 Hunger strike begins, is joined by all 29.01.94 First monthly demonstration. They Ghanaians in Campsfield till 3.10.94. continue thereafter at noon on last Saturday of 25.11.94 Detainee is bound and gagged and every month. deported to Ghana breaking the official ban on 10.02.94 11 hunger strikers (mostly Algerian) in gags after the death of Joy Gardner in July 1993. Campsfield moved to secure hospital in 4.12.94 Petition of over 5,000 signatures calling Yorkshire which is then picketed. Algerian for Campsfield to close handed in at 10 Community Association join and organise Downing Street by marchers from Oxford to demonstrations. All 11 granted temporary London via Harmondsworth detention centre. admission and released from detention. 7.02.95 By hunger strike, Muslim and Christian 11.03.94 175 detainees go on hunger strike. detainees win request for halal food and change Sparks off wave of hunger strikes across Britain of meal times to allow Muslim detainees to that includes about 400 detainees in total. observe Ramadan. 5.03.95 Ivorian Relief Action 12.03.94 First rooftop protest in Campsfield Group hold demonstrations outside Campsfield with demonstration outside by Campaign. with Campaign and new group, Students 13.03.94 Nine detainees from roof-protest Against Campsfield. Two detainees, Anne- moved to prisons. Hunger strikers threatened Marie Sonan and Sita Kamara, are released after with deportation. 40 incidents are recorded hunger strike. which break the World Medical Assembly 20.04.95 Judge Tumin, chief inspector of Declaration of Malta (1991) on treatment of prisons, report on Campsfield states average hunger strikers. Last hunger striker stops after stay is 10 weeks and 10% of detainees are there 41 days. more than six months. 26.05.95 Judge Tumin immigration minister. Spokesperson for told that his contract will not be renewed by the detainees victimized and moved to prison. Home Office. 17.08.98 All Campsfield Nine are released from 30.05.95 Two detainees are deported despite detention following concerted lobbying and having been on hunger strike for over 30 days another suicide attempt. Eight of the nine decide and being too weak to walk. One hospitalised in to sue the Home Office and Group 4 for India for several weeks. malicious prosecution. 5.02.96 Students Against Campsfield appear on 21.09.99 Two detainees injure themselves, one TV national news with banner in Heathrow very seriously, trying to escape. stating ‘Britain starves refugees’ on day benefits 14.11.99 Twenty detainees protest on roof for removed for in-country asylum applicants having been detained for over one year. 25.05.96 Six detainees attempt to escape 27.11.99 300 people attend anniversary ‘Six Campsfield but are caught and transferred to a years too long’ demonstration. prison. 15.09.00 ‘Barbed Wire Europe’ Conference 13.07.96 The Campaign and Kurdish refugees Against Immigration Detention, in Ruskin perform a street play in Oxford to highlight College, Oxford organised by Campaign; 125 detention in Campsfield (performed several attend from 25 countries. times over next few months). 2001 15.09.96 Trees outside Campsfield are cut down Barbed Wire Britain anti detention network set to prevent supporters and detainees from up on initiative of Campaign. communicating. March Manchester conference on rights of 21.05.97 Detainee moved to Winson Green migrants organised by BWB, Committee to prison because he complained of Group 4 staff Defend Asylum Seekers and National Coalition watching pornographic videos in room of Anti Deportation Campaigns adjoining prayer room during Ramadan. Summer Three-week 'No Borders' camp at 22.05.97 12 detainees protest on roof for 36 Campsfield in the summer of 2001 (in hours against transferrals to prisons. solidarity with other European No Borders 30.05.97 11 unaccompanied children detained in Network camps) Campsfield until visitors and lawyers July The Wombles plan a mass camp, complained. advertising their intention to break down the 20.08.97 Detainees protest in Campsfield as fence, but are stopped by a huge police they see a detainee being strangled as he is operation. removed. Group 4 evacuate and riot police are End 2001 Detainees react angrily to refusal of brought in. 10 West Africans and two immigration officials to meet about grievances. Caribbeans and one Lebanese are blamed for A fire is started. ‘riot’ and detained on remand. Charges against 2002 four are dropped, leaving nine. Of nine, three 7 February: ‘I can also confirm that I intend to are minors. Two attempt suicide while in close Campsfield House. This outdated centre is detention. Another two are granted refugee no longer appropriate in the 21st century. These status and are given bail. places will be transferred to the new high 16.04.98 Sir David Ramsbotham, chief standard [sic] removal centres.’ – David inspector of prisons, publishes report on Blunkett, Home Secretary. Decision later Campsfield: ‘it is abundantly clear’ that ‘there is reversed following fire at Yarl’s Wood little or no consistency, or logic, in current Spring Government announces 4 open 750- arrangements for deciding upon detention’. bed‘accommodation centres’ for migrants will 17.06.98 All of the Campsfield Nine are be opened, one at Piddington, Bicester, Oxon. acquitted when prosecution admits that their Campaign helps set up Bicester Refugee witnesses, Group 4 and Immigration staff, are Support to oppose the plan on humanitarian ‘unreliable’ that security guards destroyed grounds. Plan dropped after Public Inquiry at telephones and hit detainees. Four of the Nine which BRS and Asylum Welcome give are detained in Rochester prison. evidence, and at total cost of over £20 million. 22.06.98 70 detainees start mass hunger strike in Summer National demonstration for migrant Campsfield for one week demanding visit by rights in London organised by BWB, NCADC, CDAS (see March 2001) attend September 2001 Mass hunger strike 18 June 7 detainees escape, 3 remain free 2003 Also 2008, Oxford & District TUC statement Chief Inspector of Prisons, Anne Owers, ‘Slave Labour at Campsfield’: concludes Campsfield is not ‘a place of safety’. http://www.closecampsfield.org.uk/oldindex.ht 14 June 120 Detainees on hunger strike. ml 14 December 66 Campsfield detainees go on 9 August 13 Iraqi Kurds begin hunger strike. hunger strike. Spokesman Fazzel Abdul said: ‘Without any November Unite general secretary Bill Morris reason we are being held here and they are addresses 10th anniversary demo; protests at trying to deport us to the most dangerous oppressive policing. country in the world.’ 2004 11 August 50 other detainees join in protest. ‘We 31 January 1st European Day of Action for are protested because we are human beings we Migrant Rights/Against Detention: demos at are not criminal. We are locked in the cell like Campsfield, Waterloo station, Liverpool Hull, prisoners we want freedom and justice there Bridgewater; Daily Mail picketed. are many of us who have family and we have August Kidlington Parish Council votes down been separated to live with our family.’ expansion of Campsfield. 2009 2005 1 January A man from Congo Brazzaville in 2 April 2nd European Day of Action; demos in Campsfield slit his throat after being on hunger UK cities. strike for 9 days. Some unrest in Campsfield 27 June †RIP Ramazan Kimluca (18), Kurdish following this. asylum seeker, hangs himself in Campsfield. May An Oxford resident for 13 years, health July Campsfield detainee sews lips together, worker, and member of Unison Oxon Health swallows needle. Branch, seized and put in Campsfield. August Stream of complaints of assaults during According to the Annual Report of removals. Campsfield’s Independent Monitoring Board 2006 (IMB): Average duration of stay 44 days 27 May Public meeting in Oxford Town Hall on (excludes previous stays and stays in other detention as torture. centres), number of detainees paid for work July, December Group hunger strikes. doubled from 20 to 40 averaging around 5 hours 2007 daily. 14 March Mass protest as detainees resist a November 100 people on 16th anniversary deportation, nine hurt demo 25 July Whalley report predicts more 2010 disturbances (See Report into Disturbances at March Campsfield detainee attempts suicide, Harmondsworth and Campsfield IRCs, Robert moved to JR hospital, to Campsfield, to Whalley, CB for House of Commons July 2007.) Colnbrook, all in 48 hours. 7 August 26 escape Campsfield after fire, 9 April Demo outside Serco offices in Culham remain free. Science Park south of Oxford. 100 ‘Evict Serco 20 November GEO sack Campsfield chaplain – the race prison empire in your midst’ leaflets Father Seraphim for speaking on radio. After distributed. several years, he receives an out of court Cameroonian detainee held in 4 centres settlement in recognition that he was wrongfully deported despite having a judicial review treated outstanding and despite complaint been 17 December Major disturbance in protest at registered with the police about being beaten up violent removal of Davis Osagi; fires, Blue by members of the 7-strong ‘escort’ on previous Block closed, detainees moved to other centres, failed deportation. prisons A very ill detainee dies in Oakington despite 2008 begging for drugs and treatment. 14 June Detainees protest again, small fires set, May Pilot refuses to fly with Cameroonian 10 fire engines, 50 police officers, prison detainee when he sees treatment meted out by officers in riot gear and a police helicopter guards; detainee moved to hospital, to Haslar, and deported despite having judicial review May Start of hunger strike by Sudanese, mostly outstanding. Darfuris, in Campsfield. Most get released, but June Detainees being given counselling as they 2 continue long hunger strike. leave unsuccessful video-link bail hearings, 25 November 100 at anniversary rally with because experience too distressing. Breach of the Peace samba band, speakers August 147 detainees go on hunger strike over former detainee Toomaj Karimi, Shiar from abuse, long detention and mental health CorporateWatch, John McDonnell MP problems. Detainees talk to media and issue December Twenty uni students visiting 18 statements and in phone and email contact with detainees via Oxford Migrant Solidarity campaigners. Several demos/vigils in support at 2013 Campsfield and in town. 20 February Afghan child released after over 2 September Iraqi Kurds, Ahmed Hussein Saeed months in Campsfield and Mohammed Abdullah, escaped, both picked March Rule 35 reports being taken up by up, one in London with a suspected broken leg Campaign and deep cuts sustained in the escape. Mr Saeed April , May Oxford and London launches of 2nd had been returned in April after Baghdad Bail Observation Project report Still a Travesty authorities refused to accept people on a mass August UK BA white ‘enforcement’ vans in deportation flight. Oxford, raid on KFC, in September on Indian October 3 G4S guards arrested following death restaurants in Witney of Jimmy Mubenga. 12th: Justice for Jimmy 25 August At monthly demo, 10 detainees Mubenga demonstration, London. G4S later contact the Oxford Migrant Support mobile loses deportations contract. phone number shown each month on the banner 2011 9-10 October Over 100 sign up at CCC/OMS 28 January Campaign calls for detainees to be stall at Oxford Uni freshers fair paid minimum wage; Guardian reports women 18 October Fire at Campsfield detainees at Yarl’s Wood paid 50p an hour to 26 October Monthly demo with 50 people work. ‘It is a cruel irony that immigration including coach from Warwick detainees are being paid a pittance while 29-30 November, 1 December 200 at demo to asylum seekers in the community are not mark 20 years of Campsfield, 80 attend Asylum allowed to work.’ (Campaign press statement) Monologues and workshops March Launch of Bail Observation Project’s 2014 Immigration Bail Hearings: A Travesty of March Government plans to expand Campsfield Justice? Observations from the Public Galley at exposed meetings in Oxford Town Hall and Parliament. 1 April Farid Pardiaz convicted at Oxford 6 June 37 Kurds and Iraqis go on hunger strike Crown Court of arson, gets 32 months prison to protest at mass deportation. Campaign 7-10 May 50 detainees on hunger strike: ‘Close mounts two demonstrations, and issues al UK detention centres’; protests at statements in support Harmondsworth, Colnbrook, Brook 30 July Abiola Ayabola complaint about judge 9 July Mitie shareholders (campaign supporters) at immigration bail hearing (see website) challenge board at AGM †2 August RIP Ianos Dragutan, 31, from 20 October Nicola Blackwood MP and all Moldova hanged himself in a shower at parliamentary candidates oppose expansion at Campsfield. Vigil at Carfax. public meeting, Kidlington, attended by over 50 14 Justice for Jimmy Mubenga vigil outside 23 October Home Office planning application to Director of Public Prosecutions office: still no double size of Campsfield charges against G4S a year later. October/November letters from 21 Oxon 2012 organizations and from 70 Oxford Uni Groups from STAR and Freshers-Fair sign-ups academics call for closure of Campsfield, join to form Oxford Migrant Support. withdrawal of planning application Oxford NoBorders distribute leaflets outside 29 November ‘21 years, No More Detention’ Barnardo’s shop in Cowley Road to protest at demo at Campsfield their involvement in ‘Cedars’ detention centre for children. Closecampsfield.wordpress.com 21.11.20