Stop the lies !!!

Demonstration at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre


12:00 to 2.00pm

Saturday 30th March 2002
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First they said Yarl's Wood was for "failed" asylum seekers


Lord Rooker said the Yarl's Wood is for "failed" asylum seekers prior to their removal - yet his own statistics reveal that only 46 of the 385 detainees were subject to removal action with a date set for removal.

Then they lied about the fire

David Blunkett said detainees prevented firefighters from gaining access to the burning building - yet firefighters & police confirm it was Group 4 who prevented access.


Myth : our government values human life - why was there no sprinkler system ? why did Group 4 never even have a fire drill, subjecting detainees & it's own staff to danger ?

David Blunkett said Group 4 "acquitted themselves with dedication and courage" and he is "grateful to them" - detainees tell us that Group 4 fled the scene and did nothing to save trapped detainees from the fire

Eye-witness accounts of what sparked off the incident : Group 4 were forcibly controlling a 55 year old women, pinned her to the ground, dragged her along the floor - detainees could see this through a glass panel in a locked door - Group 4 put a sheet of paper over the glass - detainees grabbed keys from Group 4 to go and rescue the woman.

70 detainees have been moved to prison. David Blunkett says they have a history of violence or a criminal record whilst in the UK - not true of the ones we know. Most of them have not even been questioned by the police and none have been charged. Join the UNHCR in their condemnation of this practice ! Most likely their only crime was that they saw too much.

Myth : Group 4 are fit to run a detention centre:
In 1997 Group 4 managed Campsfield Detention Centre. There was a major disturbance, evidence given by Group 4 staff, led to the wrongful imprisonment of nine Africans for 12 months till the trial in 1998. The trial collapsed in the second week, when the Crown Prosecution Service announced they were withdrawing the charges, because of the complete unreliability of the evidence of Group 4 staff.


Our demands

Get your MP to sign the Early Day Motion (no. 1048) tabled by Neil Gerrard MP and John McDonnell MP, calling for an independent public enquiry and a freeze on removing detainees so they can give crucial evidence.
Release the remaining arbitrarily detained in this unsafe building
Stop scape-goating detainees and sending them to prison indefinitely
Stop the victimisation of detainees who speak out
End all arbitrary detention of asylum seekers

Further information:
Tel. 07786 517379
Email:  stoparbitrarydetentionsatyarlswood@hotmail.com

PO Box 304
Oakley
Bedford
MK43 7WB
 http://www.stoparbitrarydetentionsatyarlswood.co.uk/

Directions:
by train - 40 mins from Kings Cross Thameslink to Bedford.
By Car - take the A6 north out of Bedford towards Kettering, pass through Clapham, at round about, turn right into Twinwoods Rd., continue 1.5 miles up the hill to Yarl's Wood.