Low Staffing Levels Contribute To Immigration Centre Escapes

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Date: 8 August 2007

GMB today repeated its view that staff levels in Britain’s immigration centres contribute to disturbances and escapes of detainees.

Paul Campbell, GMB Organiser said, “GMB members work at Britain’s immigration detentions centres looking after the detainees. They have been asking the Home Office to increase the number of officers in relation to the number of detainees.

The escape of a female detainee from Yarlswood, during a hospital visit, last Tuesday (7th August), and twenty-six detainees, fourteen of whom are still not accounted for, from Campsfield House shows that the staffing levels is still too low.

GMB submitted evidence to the Home Office Select Committee on Immigration and Asylum earlier this year but our members report not practical change at the centers.

The Home Office must, when it is awarding these contracts, include a specification of the level of staff required the ensure the safety of staff, detainees and the local community.”

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