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Centre criticised for being like a jail
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INTIMIDATING and
unfriendly accommodation,
staff carrying
weapons and a lack of
privacy.
Those are just some of the
criticisms levelled at a Hampshire
detention centre in a
scathing inspection report.
Detainees at the Haslar
Immigration Removal Centre
are forced to live in "unacceptable"
accommodation that is
"incapable of providing a safe
and decent setting", according
to the report following the
inspection by Her Majesty's
Inspectorate of Prisons.
The centre was also criticised
for being run more like
a prison than a detention centre,
with staff "inappropriately"
carrying extendable
batons and wearing HM
Prison Service uniforms.
Recommendations that
would change the face of the
Gosport centre have been
made following the visit by
five inspectors.
The centre, on the site of an
old Army camp, is currently
home to 115 men from all over
the world, including
Afghanistan, Sri Lanka,
China and India.
They live in six dormitories
of between ten and 37 beds
and have been held in the centre
for anything up to 16
months, although most have
been there for fewer than four
months.
The standard of living is
one of the main criticisms of
the report, which states the
large dorms lack privacy and
are noisy, because they have
no upper walls or doors separating
the living and sleeping
areas.
The use of the public address
system was also criticised as it
bellows out instructions that
are often loud and unclear, particularly
to detainees whose
first language is not English.
Inspectors have recommended
Internet and e-mail
access for detainees to help
them keep in touch with families
overseas.
The centre was, however,
praised for providing activities
for detainees since the
last inspection in 2005. They
are taught English and can
participate in short accredited
courses and paid work.
The report states: "Detainees
were very complimentary
about education and some
described it as a sanctuary."
Anne Owers, chief inspector
of prisons, said: "This inspection
found that the accommodation
was unacceptable, even
after refurbishment.
"Some detainees told us
they are afraid to fall asleep
until others had done so and
all detainees in a dormitory
could be kept awake by TVs
until the small hours."
A spokesman for the Borders
and Immigration Agency,
which runs the centre, said:
"We will be considering the
contents of this report and the
recommendations very carefully.
We will draw up an
action plan responding to each
of the recommendations."
10:55am Tuesday 29th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Paula, marchwood on 11:38am Tue 29 Apr 08
Hello, its a detention centre, not a holiday camp! Clean, clothed, educated, tv, activities,job training. I think thats not bad considering they have entered the country ilicitly
Hello, its a detention centre, not a holiday camp! Clean, clothed, educated, tv, activities,job training. I think thats not bad considering they have entered the country ilicitly
Posted by: Fed up, Locsk Heath on 12:04pm Tue 29 Apr 08
Well said Paula, maybe if some of these do-gooders were to turn their attention and scathing attacks to the state our elderly have to live ( and die) in maybe we'd be some way to being a 'First World' country again.
Well said Paula, maybe if some of these do-gooders were to turn their attention and scathing attacks to the state our elderly have to live ( and die) in maybe we'd be some way to being a 'First World' country again.
Posted by: Me, here on 12:13pm Tue 29 Apr 08
If it's that bad, send them back to the country they came from. unless of course they are only seeking escape from a TV that is too loud.
If it's that bad, send them back to the country they came from. unless of course they are only seeking escape from a TV that is too loud.
Posted by: JB Soton, Gosport on 3:45pm Tue 29 Apr 08
I wonder what sort of accomadation we would be offered in thier countries, should we be foolish enough to enter them illegally?
Haslar must be like a 5 star hotel to most of the inmates there!
I wonder what sort of accomadation we would be offered in thier countries, should we be foolish enough to enter them illegally?
Haslar must be like a 5 star hotel to most of the inmates there!
Posted by: kingkong, Somewhere far away on 4:43pm Tue 29 Apr 08
I absolutely agree with everybody, what is England coming to. The more I read the happier I am that I left many years ago, even if my heart is always there.
I absolutely agree with everybody, what is England coming to. The more I read the happier I am that I left many years ago, even if my heart is always there.
Posted by: Derek, Dibden Purlieu on 7:06pm Tue 29 Apr 08
No wonder the UK is regarded with derision by anyone with a hard luck story and a desire for a life on benefits.
No wonder the UK is regarded with derision by anyone with a hard luck story and a desire for a life on benefits.
Posted by: Fred on 9:26pm Tue 29 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Me[/bold] wrote:
If it's that bad, send them back to the country they came from. unless of course they are only seeking escape from a TV that is too loud. [/quote] Or the call to prayer which can be loud and in England will be heard all over cities within a decade.
Me wrote:
If it's that bad, send them back to the country they came from. unless of course they are only seeking escape from a TV that is too loud.
Or the call to prayer which can be loud and in England will be heard all over cities within a decade.
Posted by: Wills, soton on 5:14am Wed 30 Apr 08
Breakfast is served Sir !
Breakfast is served Sir !
Posted by: southampton resident on 5:58pm Thu 8 May 08
Just throw them all out NOW. Then get the next lot ready to go.
Just throw them all out NOW. Then get the next lot ready to go.
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