Campsfield update: Detainees moved

The detainees were moved on Wednesday night to other detention centres, including Yarl's Wood, and may never return to the Langford Lane site.

It is understood that the revolt was sparked when an Algerian detainee was roughly removed from his room for deportation and police are investigating the arson.

Staff at the centre are now assessing the cost of the damage, which could reach hundreds of thousands of pounds and a clean-up operation is continuing.

One former worker, who asked not to be named, said: "There was significant damage, which will certainly cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to repair."

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris called for an investigation into the disturbance and said: "I have spoken to the immigration minister about this issue and the Home Office have told me that all but one of the nine people taken to hospital has been released from hospital, and that full control of Campsfield House has been regained.

"There will need to be an investigation of why there has been yet another serious disturbance at Campsfield House, which has been a subject of a number of critical reports by successive chief inspectors of prisons."

Stuart Green, a spokesman for the Home Office, could not put a price on the cost of repairs inside Campsfield House.

He added: "We are still assessing the damage, and trying to return to normal operations as soon as possible.

"While repairs are taking place, about 60 detainees have been moved to other centres, but the total number of detainees at Campsfield will return to normal in due course.

"Following a disturbance at Harmondsworth, retired civil servant Robert Whalley carried out an independent inquiry and it's perfectly plausible that the same could happen regarding this incident. A criminal investigation could run alongside that."

Mr Green said the Home Office was not considering the closure of Campsfield House following the incident.