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'Lock-up time, you animals' – migrants abused

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Published Date: 04 January 2008
By DAVID BARRETT
A CATALOGUE of racist behaviour inside Britain's immigration detention centres was exposed in an official report yesterday.
Immigration offenders and failed asylum-seekers at one centre, Colnbrook near Heathrow airport, were described as "black b******s" by one female officer, who taunted detainees by saying: "Animals, lock-up time".

The report, commissioned by the Bo
rder and Immigration Agency (BIA), described the atmosphere at Colnbrook as "distressing" and "turbulent".

Many detainees who had been held in jails said they would prefer to be back in prison than in Colnbrook, the audit team from Focus Consultancy added.

At Lindholme immigration removal centre in South Yorkshire, one member of staff described north African detainees as "donkeys", accompanied by "full animal sounds".

The officer had been dismissed and there were now generally good relations between staff and detainees at the 112-bed centre.

At Harmondsworth immigration removal centre, also near Heathrow, the document said: "Regular taunting of detainees by some officers goes unchallenged."

The report was commissioned by the Home Office's BIA after a TV documentary in 2005 exposed racism and mistreatment at Oakington immigration centre in Cambridgeshire.

Lin Homer, chief executive of the BIA, said: "The BIA takes any allegation of abuse or misconduct very seriously, which is why we commissioned this report."



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 January 2008 11:07 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Immigration and refugees
 
1

Covert Action,

04/01/2008 04:34:43
They know where the airport is.
2

,

04/01/2008 09:16:04
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
3

Be safe, be scene,

04/01/2008 09:54:48
#1 + #2

Flippant and ill judged comments that fails to take into account the individual stories that resulted in these folks ending up in glorified cattle pens.
To vicariously condone such behaviour by those in a position of authority is horrific and a sad indictment brittish society and the insular and inward looking mentality that it fosters.
At a time when public services are failing and literacy and numeracy rates are falling to levels lower that that of 2nd world countires amongst the white "indiginous" population, whilst those of second generation migrants is the highest its ever been, maybe others who want the chance to succceed should get it at the expense of our home grown muppets!
4

Boy Wonder,

04/01/2008 09:58:08
Immigration centres are just jails and the staff, screws! What do you expect with the type of people who usually apply for these jobs?

It's damn disgusting. Close the centres down and either let the people in ... or send them all back with some immediacy. When would-be immigrants hear how others are being treated by the "mother of parliaments", they'll probably head elsewhere!
5

Covert Action,

04/01/2008 10:12:09
#3

It takes a lot to make me cry so if you want to believe the lying bs of these conmen then let them live in a tent in your garden. Just don't ask me to pick up the tab.
6

Be safe, be scene,

04/01/2008 10:30:45
#5,
they would probably be able to maintain a modicum of dignity in my back yard.
What tab are you picking up exactly? and how does it differ from the thousands of benefit cheats already in the UK? the Jails full of homegrown criminals? and the boozehounds and smokers getting free care on the NHS? There are plenty of tax burdens in the UK and if thats your argument i would suggest you look at the home grown problems first. The problem of detention centres is entirely the making of the current government (to a lsser extent, previous regimes) its hardly the fault of these guys that they are bieng treated as a political football for the the votes of a disenfranchised electorate that like nothing more than a bit of minority bashing.
7

Covert Action,

04/01/2008 11:27:21
#5

Well it is good that you are compassionate but I'd have all the scroungers and cheats on the new, improved Gruinard but since they are born here we are, for the moment, stuck with them. Outsourcing prisons and job centres to Angola or Senegal might be an idea. However the people in the detention centre have flannelled their way here (an island!) to claim asylum because they think it is the land of milk and honey. All they deserve is to tasered and dragged to the airport.
8

sergiesmax,

04/01/2008 11:41:31
#5 you are so verry correct they should be sent back to there own lands GB can hardly look after its own we dont need more probs on our hands.
9

Be safe, be scene,

04/01/2008 11:42:25
Im perfectly aware of Britains geographical location. To be honest, If The UK stopped giving such mixed messages to such people i doubt we would be faced with this "problem"
It seems that the Governments slipshod balancing act between appeasing europe and "getting tough on immigration" coupled with a lack of investment in border controls and a turgid and sluggish judicial system means that the the root causes are not addressed and the direct results are ignored, or worse slung into a cattle pen.
If Britain really was against mass immigration (ie non EU) then it would impose stringent methods of reserach to assess who really was seeking asylum (and many are) to those who are chancing thier arm for a better life,(about which there is no shame, you or I, i imagine would follow exactly the same route if it meant the provision of a better standard of living and/or opportunities for your kids) And then deal swiftly with the decision. This can only be done if sufficient resources are given for this to be a viable option. Thus, "the taxes" which you moan about would need to go up, to facillitate this.
Indefinite imprisonment is probably the cheaper option, if thats your gripe. The more expensive,and in my view, better option is an overhaul of immigration policy to reflect the changing need of british society, a welcome package for manual and skilled workers, retraining for manual labourers, free english classes and an initial medical check, or a simple "no thanks, not today"
Im sure you agree, for differing reasons, that the watered down, middle of the road version, clearly isnt working.
10

Doreen,

The Cyber shebeen 04/01/2008 12:25:17
7......I bet you dont even like black or asian Britains, am I right?
11

bill-alba,

fife 04/01/2008 14:33:41
If we in scotland stopped following an immigration policy designed for the SE of England and had our own policy and stopped reading and beleiving scare stories on immigration from the english press we might just might be a little bit more compassionate and a little less paranoid.
12

Be safe, be scene,

04/01/2008 14:44:32
#11, too be fair, you probably are an ugly bassa, whereas, I for one, wouldn't accept that sort of abuse in the street, and the crux of the story lies in indisputeable abuse of power by those in authority. Its not a question of mean words, its a question of undermining the liberal bedrock upon which this country was built.
13

Be safe, be scene,

04/01/2008 14:49:26
oh, and without meaning to be small, for examples of falling literacy rates, please see post #8!
14

Covert Action,

04/01/2008 15:33:15
#10
I'm not sure I understand.
Do you mean Britons ?
Unlike you, I do not try to have a quota of friends from different ethnic minorities but judge people on their character. I do have Asian and Black friends but again, unlike you, I am not predisposed towards liking them just to increase my "cool" quotient.
15

Covert Action,

04/01/2008 15:40:40
#10

However I fail to see what that has to do with anything except your own prejudices.
16

sam the god,

04/01/2008 15:48:12
What we need is immediate deportation but the pc brigade would be up in arms if that was to happen so we are stuck with increased taxes to look after these people.
They should not be in this country as the definition of asylum seeker is that they ask for asylum in the nearest safe country from where they are fleeing from. The UK is a long way from where they come from with many safe countries in between so they should not be here the UK taxpayers should not have to fork out for them time to deport the illegals.
17

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 04/01/2008 16:53:27
15.....I dont believe you.
18

Covert Action,

04/01/2008 16:58:53
#19
who cares what you think?
It is obvious that you are dimly trying to categorise me as a "racist" so that my position on scrounging illegals can be dismissed. I expect you do it all the time with anyone who disagrees with your humdrum opinions.
19

Doreen,

The Cyber shebeen 04/01/2008 17:07:44
You obviously do sweetie pie...otherwise you would not be blustering outrage....as to my "doing it all the time"..couldnt tell you love, you'l need to ask the other posters....your posts re 'illegals' are full of hate and anger....leads me to suspect that there is more to this than simply "my poor pocket".

Still dont believe you.

20

John Blackley,

Austin, TX 04/01/2008 18:38:23
Admittedly there are some compassion gaps among our happy band today. I wonder why.

At a time when public services appear to be crumbling and the government seems to be more intent on suppressing the liberty of its citizens than protecting them from attack, many see illegal immigrants as a part of the cause - rightly or wrongly. (Please remember, the article is talking about "immigration offenders and failed asylum seekers" - people who have no legal right to residence in Britain.)

I don't believe people's fears about immigration make them morons - neither do I believe that those with an unquestioning compassion for immigrants are deranged.

I do believe that immigration in Britain has been disastrously mismanaged and that - rather than abusing one-another - the citizens of Britain should become more politically active. After all, it is and always was true that a citizenry gets the government it deserves. If the extent of a person's political activism is to write complaining letters to newspapers then that person will, ultimately, get a failed and despotic government.

(Tongue firmly in cheek) Oh, and by the way, Doreen and Covert Action shouldn't you two just get a room?
21

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 04/01/2008 18:52:50
John, people who are in a position of authority should behave professionally...whether this be police officers or prison guards. Why?...apart from the fact that racism from either is not acceptable under any circumstances, it undermines the integrity of other officers and lends credence to the notion that these people are indeed racist idiots...the situation in these detention centres (as in prisons) is already tense, why, if you have half a brain, add fuel to the fire?...people are made to feel like less than human and is it any suprise that riots incur?..surely their position demands that their behaviour towards inmates avoids such confrontations?...it is after all..only common sense...
22

sam the god,

04/01/2008 19:28:32
#23 doreen,

you are right they should not be in these detention centres they as failled asylum seeker should be put out of the country the same day this solves the problem straight away and saves me tax money into the bargain
23

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 04/01/2008 19:41:41
Awwwh diddums...you haud onto that hairy sporran wae the grip o' death son.....still mincin aboot in yer hairy troosers by the way?
24

sam the god,

04/01/2008 20:01:24
#25 doreen

What part of my post (#24) upsets your politically correct views?
They as I previously stated should be booted out immediately.
If you and your other pc brigade want them to remain in this country you should pay for them and not expect all the other hard pressed tax payers to support them just to satisfy your ego and that of the other pc brigade.
Also under the criteria’s required to claim asylum they should not even be in this country.
25

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 04/01/2008 20:56:18
I take it thats a yes then...try wearing them inside oot...might help wae the chafin..
26

John Blackley,

Austin, TX 04/01/2008 21:56:38
Doreen, regarding your post #23 (I'll ignore your flirting with sam the god - my, but you do attract a horde of admirers!) I agree.

However, "should" is all very well in a white-light world and real people rarely, if ever, live up to "should".

Every trade, profession and occupation has its share of practitioners who are less-than-saints (and, here, I won't speculate on reasons why they are that way) and they do attract their share of criticism.

Justified as that criticism (or, in many cases here, support) is, it simply won't change anything fundamental - people being what they are.

While I do have some sympathy for the immigrant - being one myself - I also have sympathy for native Britons who feel at their wits' end (okay, perhaps not a long journey for a few of them) - not because of their innate racism or intolerance but because of a complete absence of control over the immigration process.

Sympathy for the immigrant is admirable and I don't question your motives or reasoning whatsoever - I'm just pleading for a little of that sympathy to be directed to those who feel abused and threatened by illegal immigrants and unchecked immigration.
27

sam the god,

04/01/2008 22:04:22
#27 doreen

try answering the question about your pc beliefs in a straight forward manner if that is possiable for you?

are you getting your purse out to pay for these freeloaders?
deport now no excuses no exceptions.
28

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 05/01/2008 00:33:00
Must have been timed out cos my comments vanished..tis late and I shall reply perhaps tomorrow.
29

David Eyesdale,

Melbourne, Australia 05/01/2008 07:38:15
I'm sure these illegal economic migrants take lessons in playing the race card wherever they go. They try it on in Australia big time also. I'm sick of it, bending-over backwards for them, send them back straight away! I figure that will be the best deterent to more coming.
30

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 05/01/2008 11:56:16
Not all of these people are economic migrants...not all of them receive a fair hearing, are denied rightful legal representation and are 'fast tracked' which does not give them enough time to gather the relevant evidence for their case...at the same time the media stirs things up big time and helps create an atmosphere of tension regarding people who are seeking refuge from persecution....There will always be those who abuse the system and there will always be those who suffer because of it...whether they be genuine asylum seekers or Brits....but everyone has the right to appeal against a decision...and why should they have to put up with racist abuse from half wits whilst awaiting that appeal?...why should anyone?...are we not better than that?..I have seen racism directed at various people from various different countries and it is ugly and distasteful....a basic human instinct that some cannot seem to shake off....

I no longer live in Britain permanently Sam...when I did I paid my taxes just like the rest of you, and should I return I shall do the same quite freely....
31

sam the god,

05/01/2008 13:12:35
#32 doreen
the definition of asylum seeker is that they ask for asylum in the nearest safe country from where they are fleeing from. The UK is a long way from where they come from with many safe countries in between so they should not be here.
Why not ask the goverment of where you are staying now to take them and give this country a break from these social parasites who technically should not even be asking for asylum here therefore they should not be give any benefits at all they believe that this is the land of milk and honey it is about time this myth was stopped immediate deportations as soon as they arrive would soon solve that after getting rid of several thousand of them.
32

Doreen,

The Cyber Shebeen 05/01/2008 19:48:04
Sam, the definition of 'safe' is open to debate, and besides, it is not a strictly enforced rule, and besides, were this actually the case it would mean that the UK...an island... would never have any asylum seekers, which makes you wonder why we bothered signing the Geneva convention in the first place. It is wrong and dangerous to classify all of these people as 'social parasites'..some of them are being sent back to their sure deaths...thanks to being homosexual...openly critical of their own governments..or their family being openly critical...they come to Britain for a variety of reasons...perhaps they have family here who have been granted asylum, they have friends here or a small community of their countrymen are to be found here..some of them do not even know where they are going to end up and are brought into the country in lorries, the destination is not their choice, safety is their priority and they pay for that...the fact is, it is very difficult to be granted asylum in Britain and seekers have to put a very strong case to be successful. One man who failed saw his close relatives being shot dead, the perpetrators then shot indiscriminatly inside his house, he escaped, he was failed on the grounds that the gunmen did not hit him and he was obviously not a target....!!!!
33

ddmc,

09/01/2008 08:27:18
Genuine political asylum seekers are the ones who suffer, the majority of the UK population want quotas on economic migrants. But as usual the politicians are doing the opposite, to the point where they have instructed the BIA to let as many in as possible.
34

Evia,

10/02/2008 01:42:35
If they were where they should be i.e. not in this country, they would not have had to listen to that abuse. They are not all asylum seekers but have come here for an easy life. I have no objection to immigrants being in this country legally but illegals, no. Some of the most charming people I have met are immigrants and I would be gladly swap our own good-for-nothing idle dole scroungers for more of these charming people. The only thing I am against is not having a set quota but then we wouldn't need a set quota if we could swap 1 for 1.

 

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