Detention centre reaches 15

4:52pm Monday 1st December 2008

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Protesters who gathered outside Campsfield House to mark its 15th anniversary vowed to continue the fight to close the immigration removal centre for another 15 years if necessary.

More than 100 people with banners and loud-hailers met at the troubled centre near Kidlington on Saturday.

Speakers included Camer- oonian Romain Ngouabeu, chairman of the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaign, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris and Bill MacKeith, one of the founding members of protest group, the Campaign to Close Campsfield.

Musicians also performed.

Mr MacKeith, 62, from Jericho, said: “We had well over 100 people attend the protest, people from London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Coventry, as well as different towns in Oxfordshire.

“The atmosphere was cheerful, determined and angry.

“Everyone pledged to continue to carry on fighting until Campsfield closes for good.”

The first detainees arrived at Campsfield House, which is now run by private American company Geo on behalf of the UK Border Agency, in November 1993.

The facility is used to detain asylum seekers, either waiting for deportation or to find out whether they will be allowed to stay in the country, and foreign nationals who have served a criminal sentence.

Mr MacKeith said: “Without charge or time limit and with little access to legal representation, detainees are denied their human rights, often kept locked up for months.

“We had the Home Secretary tell us Campsfield was unfit for the 21st century several years ago and then a year later we were told it would stay open.

“We oppose all detention centres. Innocent people should not be locked up.

“I have visited the centre in the past — it’s grim.

“It makes people mentally ill and it’s a very depressing place.”

In the last few years, Campsfield has endured numerous riots, hunger strikes and break-outs.

The Government recently said the detention centre would remain open for the foreseeable future.

The Campaign to Close Campsfield recently helped establish a protest group to oppose plans to build an 800-bed immigration removal centre near Bicester, which would also house failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants awaiting deportation.

The Coalition Against the Bullingdon Immigration Removal Centre said the new centre would be "inhumane and unnecessary".