Solidarity demo at the deadly Colnbrook immigration prison

On Friday 5th August anti-detention campaigners held a small, but noisy, protest at Colnbrook immigration prison, near Heathrow airport, where two migrant prisoners apparently killed themselves in less than a month. With a megaphone, whistles, a vuvuzela and pots and pans, they made themselves heard to the migrants locked up in Colnbrook, as well as in the adjacent Harmondsworth. Detainees shouted back 'freedom, freedom' and other angry, desperate slogans. See photos here.

Demo against new migrant prison in Sussex, 30/07/11

On Saturday 30th July activists from Croydon, Brighton, London and elsewhere followed a call from Croydon NoBorders and gathered in Hayward Heath, Sussex, to protest against the opening of a new detention centre for migrants in nearby Pease Pottage.

Walking through the town, distributing leaflets the protesters drew people's attention to the direct impact of European immigration policy on families in the UK. They occupied a roundabout with banners and leafleted all incoming cars, played music and engaged in discussions with passers-by. The demo finished outside the Mid Sussex Council offices, where planning permission was granted for the detention centre in March.

Two deaths in the UK's immigration prisons

A 25 year old male detainee being held in Colnbrook immigration removal centre near Heathrow died on Sunday morning, 31st July. The name/nationality of the man is unknown. FreeMovement have been in contact with detainees but they have been too distressed to speak coherently.

Meanwhile a 35 year old man was found hanged this morning, 2nd August, at Campfield detention centre near Oxford, reports The Guardian.

Phone blockade GCC, stop extortion and censorship! Friday 13th May

New detention phone system to keep detainees under control

A new phone system run by a private company will replace personal mobile phones in immigration detention centres, Corporate Watch can reveal. The trial at Tinsley House detention centre, near Gatwick airport, is run by Global Comms & Consulting Ltd (GCC), which specialises in secure telecommunications services to major government agencies and multinational companies.

Activists disrupt Barnardo's meeting to protest at their involvement in detention

On 9th March, Barnardo's announced that it had agreed with the UKBA to provide staff and children's activities for the proposed new immigration prison for up to nine families at Pease Pottage, Crawley.

"Keep Your Promise" London campaign launch 26/03/11

End Child Detention Now, Shpresa Programme and Student Action for Refugees are launching the "Keep Your Promise" campaign on Saturday 26th March from 5pm-6.30pm with an event at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green.

PRESS RELEASE: Barnardo's legitimise the continued detention of children

***FOR IMMEDIATE DISSEMINATION***
Thursday 10th March 2011

The children's charity Barnardo's is legitimising the continued use of detention for children by agreeing to provide welfare services at a "pre-departure accommodation" centre the government plans to open in Pease Pottage near Crawley in Sussex.

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