Building starts on new removal centre

HOME OFFICE News Release (125/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 24 July 2007

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.