HOME OFFICE News
Release (048/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 18 March 2009
The
government's commitment to securing Britain's borders
and removing illegal migrants was further underlined today with
the opening of a new immigration removal centre by Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith.
The new 426-bed detention centre, built next to Gatwick Airport,
will help ensure the UK Border Agency can continue to remove
record numbers of foreign lawbreakers from the UK.
Brook House, the biggest secure unit of its kind in the country,
will house male illegal migrants and foreign criminals, and
increases the country's detention capacity to nearly 3,000
bed spaces.
Detention is a vital tool that helps the UK Border Agency remove
those with no right to be in the country. Last year over 66,000
people were removed from the UK or left voluntarily - one every
eight minutes. This includes 5,395 foreign criminals - made up of
50 killers and attempted killers, over 200 sex offenders and more
than 1,500 drug dealers. The extra capacity at Brook House will
therefore allow for the removal of even more foreign national
prisoners, illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers.
Jacqui Smith said:
"I'm committed to removing more foreign lawbreakers
faster than ever before, that's why the opening of this
Immigration Removal Centre is so important.
"By expanding our detention capacity and working closely
with countries to re-document foreign nationals faster, we're
making it more difficult than ever to stay in the UK illegally.
"The message is clear - whether you're a visa
overstayer, a foreign criminal or a failed asylum seeker, the UK
Border Agency is determined to track you down and remove you from Britain."
The government is committed to clamping down on illegal migrants
and controlling the UK's border. The UK Border Agency is
increasing its detention estate by 60 per cent by 2012. These
extra spaces will be needed as the UK Border Agency carries out
record numbers of enforcement raids, cracks down on those that
break the rules, and speeds up the removal process.
A new 370-bed wing will be added to Harmondsworth Removal Centre,
near Heathrow Airport, by 2010.
As well as the opening of Brook House and the expansion of
Harmondsworth, the Home Office has submitted two planning
applications for centres at Bullingdon in Oxfordshire and
Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire.
A decision on which site is pursued will depend on the planning
process. By seeking planning permission for both sites the Home
Office is laying the groundwork for further expansion of the
detention estate, with the potential for a second new removal
centre adding room for hundreds more detainees.
Detention is seen as a last resort by the government - when
someone is found to have no right to be in the UK they are
expected to leave voluntarily saving the taxpayer the cost of a
stint in an immigration removal centre and an enforced return home.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The main categories of people detained in
immigration removal centres are:
* ex foreign-national
prisoners;
* failed asylum seekers; and
* immigration
offenders (visa over-stayers, illegal entrants to the UK).
2. Brook House is built to prison standard B/C security.
3. In 2008, 66,275 individuals were removed or left voluntarily
from the UK. This figure is made up of:
* enforced removals:
21,110;
* assisted voluntary returns: 4,295;
* other
voluntary departures: 8,720; and
* non - asylum cases refused
entry at port and returned: 32,155.
4. Detention capacity across the UK:
Centre Capacity
Campsfield, Oxford 216
Dover 316
Dungavel, Prestwick 190 (male, female & family)
Harmondsworth, Heathrow 259
Haslar, Portsmouth 160
Lindholme, South Yorkshire 124
Oakington, Cambridge 408
Tinsley House, Gatwick 146 (male, female & family)
Yarl's Wood, Bedford 405 (female & family)
Colnbrook, Heathrow 388
Brook House, Gatwick 426 (male)
Subtotal 3,038
Two new wings at 370 (male)
Harmondsworth. Heathrow (due to open early 2010)
Yarls Wood (could open 2010) Up to 500 (male)
Planning approval obtained.
Bullingdon (could open 2012) Up to 800 (male)
Awaiting planning decision.
020 7035 3535