Home Office
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Building starts on new removal centre
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne today helped break the ground for a new removal centre at Gatwick.
The new facilities, which will open in 2008 under the name Brook House, are a key part of the Border and Immigration Agency's (BIA) plans to increase deportations of foreign nationals who are in the UK illegally.
Every eight minutes an illegal immigrant is removed from the UK by the BIA - work that is helped by the doubling of enforcement resources announced earlier this year.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:
"Last year we
deported an illegal immigrant every eight minutes, removals of
failed asylum seekers hit a record high and we've doubled the
pace we're removing foreign national prisoners.
"Building this new removal centre at Gatwick sends a very
clear message to those here illegally. We'll do everything we
can to send you home."
The Government's first
priority is to deal with the most harmful first and over the past
12 months almost 3,000 foreign national prisoners have been
removed from the UK. The removal of failed asylum seekers was at
its highest level in 2006, while asylum applications have fallen
by a massive 76 per cent since their peak in 2002.
Brook House will be a purpose-built secure facility with 426 male and female detention bedspaces - providing safe and secure facilities for those who have entered the UK illegally. It will be situated within the boundary fence of Gatwick Airport, close to existing immigration facilities at Tinsley House.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Border and Immigration Agency
Business Plan, which gives more information on how we are
delivering an immigration system fit for the 21st Century, is
available at: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/
2. Current grid of detention spaces across the estate:
Centre Capacity Campsfield, Oxford 215 Dover 316 Dungavel, Prestwick 188 (male, female & family) Harmondsworth, Heathrow 259 Haslar, Portsmouth 160 Lindholme, S Yorkshire 112 Oakington, Cambridge 352 Tinsley House, Gatwick 146 (male, female & family) Yarl's Wood, Bedford 405 (female & family) Colnbrook, Heathrow 313 (plus 40 STHF) TOTAL 2,506
3. Brook House is being developed by APP on behalf of the Home Office.