Protesters demonstrated outside Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre today against plans to reopen it.

Campsfield, near Kidlington, was closed in 2018 after years of protest by activists and local residents.

Centre was closed as part of a Government policy to detain fewer people, which has since been reversed.

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Oxford Mail: Campaigners outside CampsfieldCampaigners outside Campsfield (Image: Bill MacKeith)

On September 21, the Government published a document inviting companies to run the site, with a visit scheduled for September 29.

In response to this, campaigners stood outside the main gate with placards to demonstrate their cause to potential bidders.  

Slogans on the placards and banners said Immigration Detention is not the answer, Shame of profits made from misery and Keep Campsfield.

Oxford Mail: Campaigners outside CampsfieldCampaigners outside Campsfield (Image: Bill MacKeith)

Bill MacKeith, Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed, said: “Companies like Mitie, Serco, GEO and G4S make money out of locking up innocent people without time limit and without proper legal oversight. Most asylum seekers held in detention are granted asylum, which means that, even following government thinking they should not have been imprisoned in the first place.

“We are here to keep up the profile of the local opposition to the reopening of Campsfield, and to call on these companies to drop their plans.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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