‘Armed’ men in stand-off with police at migrant centre
DETAINEES armed with “makeshift weapons” were involved in a tense faceoff with riot police after being left without heating or running water during a power cut at Europe’s largest immigration centre.
Dozens of men held at the Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre, known as Harmondsworth, near Heathrow Airport, left their rooms after lights and heating went out following a power cut in the wider area. The disturbance is understood to have broken out as the centre’s occupants were being transferred to three other centres.
The Home Office said: “A group of detainees left their rooms and went out into the courtyard area armed with various weaponry. Territorial Support Police were sent to the scene.”
An observer from the Independent Monitoring Board, which monitors prison and detention centres, said detainees were angered “by not having any heating for several hours” and at the prospect of being moved.
But in an apparent conflict with the Home Office’s account, the observer said “no weapons” had been used.
She said: “They were unhappy that there was no power, which meant no heating. There was also no water yesterday but that came back in the evening.
“The disturbance started because they were told they were being moved to another detention centre. Obviously they were unhappy about that. There were no fights. They were unhappy and they voiced it. But there were no knives used and the staff were all fine.”
She said officers from the Metropoli- tan Police’s Territorial Support Group (TSG) were called to the site as staff, who were outnumbered 28 to two, did not feel in control.
A source said some men were moved to Campsfield House IRC in Kidlington, near Oxford, while others were taken to Gatwick IRC, in West Sussex. He said officials spent yesterday “ringing round” detention centres but “struggled” to find space for them.
No one escaped during the disturbances, said officials.
A spokesman for the Home Office said: “The welfare and safety of staff and individuals detained at Harmondsworth is our key priority.” Colnbrook, which is run by Mitie, holds more than 670 adult males who are awaiting deportation after having an asylum claim denied or still awaiting a decision but are considered at risk of absconding. It is understood that the moved migrants will not be taken to hotels. They will not be bailed or released if they cannot prove a fixed address.
Robert Jenrick, the immigration ministers, said that thankfully no staff or individuals detained at the centre were hurt “despite clear evidence of unacceptable levels of violence and disorder”.
He added: “The perpetrators of this disturbance will be held to account and, where appropriate, removed from the country as swiftly as is practicable.”