There are still some places left on the coaches to the demonstration tomorrow, leaving opposoite University ofLondon Union (ULU), Malet Street, WC1E 7HY at 10 am. No Borders London issued the following press release today, 9th February 2007:
A demonstration is taking place tomorrow (Saturday, 10th February 2007) outside Harmondsworth and Colnbrook immigration detention centres near Heathrow Airport. The demonstration, which starts at 11:30 am, has been called by No Borders London.
In a report released on 28th November 2006 HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers found that 60% of Harmondsworth’s detainees felt unsafe, and criticised the management’s “overemphasis on physical security and control”. In response to suppression of this report by officers inside the centre, the detainees held a spontaneous protest on 29th November, crying “S.O.S Freedom” to the watching public.
Richard Thrift, a spokesperson for No Borders London says: “Detention Centres such as Colnbrook and Harmondsworth are designed to punish people whose only ‘crime’ is to enter the UK. Medical research has shown that arbitrary, prolonged and indefinite detention in these centres is highly detrimental to mental health and can lead to self-harm and suicides. Since Harmondsworth opened in 1989, 5 detainees have taken their own lives.”
“On Saturday morning, we call on all those who value human rights to voice their disgust at the existence of these centres”.
Conditions in Harmondsworth are now worse than ever. Since the protests on 29th November, most detainees have been moved to other centres, or prisons. Those that remain are kept up to 10 to a room, with little or no access to healthcare.
Notes for Editor
1. No Borders London is part of an international network opposing immigration controls and the repression of migrants. No Borders London has a Detainee Support Group that visits immigration detainees and advocates on their behalf.
2. Harmondsworth detention centre is run by Kalyx, and at full capacity holds 501 men. Colnbrook detention centre is run by Serco and holds 313 people at full capacity. Since opening, both centres have experienced numerous protests by both detainees and their supporters outside. For details on some of these protests, go to:
http://www.ncadc.org.uk
http://www.barbedwirebritain.org.uk
3. The HM Chief Inspector of Prisons report on Harmondsworth is
available to download in full at:
http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspect_reports/irc-in...
4. For a report on the protest inside Harmondsworth on 29th November
2006, go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6194410.stm