Abolish Immigration Prisons Picket- 21 March, Edinburgh
some of no borders | 13.03.2009 23:04 | Anti-racism | Migration | Repression
No one should be imprisoned for trying to seek a better life for themselves and their families. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the circumstances under which people are held are scandalously poor, and private companies like G4S profit from human suffering.
Abolish Immigration Prisons
Freedom of Movement for All!
Edinburgh Picket of G4S (Group 4 Securicor)
12 noon
Saturday 21 March
G4S (Group 4 Securicor), 100 Telford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2NF
Thousands of asylum-seekers are currently being kept in immigration prisons throughout the UK. They haven’t committed a crime, but they can be imprisoned indefinitely. Many of the people detained have experienced torture, and their trauma is exacerbated by being detained. These detention centres are operated for profit by companies like G4S.
This picket will coincide with protests at Penine House in Manchester, and Yarls Wood immigration prison in Bedfordshire, called by Manchester No Borders, London No Borders, and other groups.
Why G4S?
• G4S make massive profits from their involvement in the prison industrial complex and the repressive border regime, of which immigration prisons are a part.
• G4S run “Scotland’s shame” Dungavel immigration prison, where people who have committed no crime, including children, are locked up indefinitely.
• G4S run 25 short-term immigration holding prisons in the UK, including the new Pennine House at Manchester Airport. A report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in September last year found that people were detained at Manchester airport for up to a few days in a "poor" environment, with no access to fresh air and daylight. Numerous other ‘inadequacies’ were reported.
• G4S also run Oakington, Tinsley House and Brook House immigration prisons. A BBC documentary, "Detention Undercover: The real story", broadcast in March 2005, revealed evidence of racism and mistreatment by staff at Oakington.
• Under contract from the UK government, G4S run short-term immigration holding prisons in Coquelles and Calais, France, where the Inspector of Prisons found the conditions of cells used to hold people were so basic that staff nicknamed them ‘the dog kennels’.
• G4S hold the contract for transport of migrants who are being forcibly removed. This is a key link in the deportation industry. “Outsourcing Abuse”, an investigative report by Birnberg Peirce & Partners, Medical Justice and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns found an alarming number of injuries sustained by asylum deportees at the hand of private “escorts” contracted by the Home Office over the last 4 years.
No one should be imprisoned for trying to seek a better life for themselves and their families. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it is shocking that the circumstances under which people are held are scandalously poor, and that private companies like G4S profit from human suffering.
The notorious G4S has also been criticised by human rights movements in South Africa for using violence and force to cut off the electricity supplies of people living in poverty in shanty towns, and by unions across the world for the poor working conditions and racism experienced by its staff.
More info at:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/failed-asylumseekers-are-abused-by-private-security-companies-says-report-866879.html
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2006/apr/uk-inspector-of-prisons-imm-visits.pdf
http://bristolnoborders.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/group-4-securicor-attacks-south-african-shack-dwellers-movement/
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3193
http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspect_reports/STHF-reports/2007_Manchester_airport_STHF.pdf?view=Binary
Freedom of Movement for All!
Edinburgh Picket of G4S (Group 4 Securicor)
12 noon
Saturday 21 March
G4S (Group 4 Securicor), 100 Telford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2NF
Thousands of asylum-seekers are currently being kept in immigration prisons throughout the UK. They haven’t committed a crime, but they can be imprisoned indefinitely. Many of the people detained have experienced torture, and their trauma is exacerbated by being detained. These detention centres are operated for profit by companies like G4S.
This picket will coincide with protests at Penine House in Manchester, and Yarls Wood immigration prison in Bedfordshire, called by Manchester No Borders, London No Borders, and other groups.
Why G4S?
• G4S make massive profits from their involvement in the prison industrial complex and the repressive border regime, of which immigration prisons are a part.
• G4S run “Scotland’s shame” Dungavel immigration prison, where people who have committed no crime, including children, are locked up indefinitely.
• G4S run 25 short-term immigration holding prisons in the UK, including the new Pennine House at Manchester Airport. A report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in September last year found that people were detained at Manchester airport for up to a few days in a "poor" environment, with no access to fresh air and daylight. Numerous other ‘inadequacies’ were reported.
• G4S also run Oakington, Tinsley House and Brook House immigration prisons. A BBC documentary, "Detention Undercover: The real story", broadcast in March 2005, revealed evidence of racism and mistreatment by staff at Oakington.
• Under contract from the UK government, G4S run short-term immigration holding prisons in Coquelles and Calais, France, where the Inspector of Prisons found the conditions of cells used to hold people were so basic that staff nicknamed them ‘the dog kennels’.
• G4S hold the contract for transport of migrants who are being forcibly removed. This is a key link in the deportation industry. “Outsourcing Abuse”, an investigative report by Birnberg Peirce & Partners, Medical Justice and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns found an alarming number of injuries sustained by asylum deportees at the hand of private “escorts” contracted by the Home Office over the last 4 years.
No one should be imprisoned for trying to seek a better life for themselves and their families. As if that wasn’t bad enough, it is shocking that the circumstances under which people are held are scandalously poor, and that private companies like G4S profit from human suffering.
The notorious G4S has also been criticised by human rights movements in South Africa for using violence and force to cut off the electricity supplies of people living in poverty in shanty towns, and by unions across the world for the poor working conditions and racism experienced by its staff.
More info at:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/failed-asylumseekers-are-abused-by-private-security-companies-says-report-866879.html http://www.statewatch.org/news/2006/apr/uk-inspector-of-prisons-imm-visits.pdf http://bristolnoborders.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/group-4-securicor-attacks-south-african-shack-dwellers-movement/ http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=3193 http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspect_reports/STHF-reports/2007_Manchester_airport_STHF.pdf?view=Binary
some of no borders
Homepage:
http://www.noborders.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 7 comments
Why Edinburgh
14.03.2009 10:32
Why aren't you doing this action there?
observer
Edinburgh and everywhere!
14.03.2009 14:20
j
Glasgow protest
14.03.2009 14:49
noborderer
more events in Scotland
14.03.2009 17:58
Tuesday 24 March, 7pm independent film and discussion exploring migration, borders and human rights @ The Forest Café, Bristo Place, Edinburgh. Free
Tuesday 7 April, 7pm two more films exploring migration, borders and human rights @ The Forest Café, Bristo Place, Edinburgh! Free
Saturday 18 April Unity Ceilidh 7pm-midnight
This is a ceilidh collective event with 100% of profits going to the Unity Centre in Glasgow, providing practical solidarity and support for asylum seekers
@ South Side Community Centre, West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9ER. £10/£6 (concession)/£3 (children under 12)
Saturday 9 May No Borders Dayschool @ the Forest Café, Bristo Place, Edinburgh. More info to follow…
see you there!
contact
14.03.2009 19:54
manc no borders
e-mail:
manchesternoborders@riseup.net
Glasgow's miles better!
16.03.2009 15:00
The picket of Brand Street was initiated by asylum seekers themselves and supported by the collective of volunteers at the Unity Centre and is not just organised by 'activists'.
Solidarity is to be welcomed but the weekly picket in Glasgow hasn't been going for long - only two weeks - and hasn't become established yet so it is a legitimate question to ask why another demo is being organised only thirty miles away...
It's a bit like organising a protest in Leeds about a problem in Bradford or organising an action in Newcastle when the company headquarters is only in Durham.
It just seems a bit weird when folk are needed at the Glasgow picket.
For anyone else who is interested the pickets of the Reporting Centre - where people are detained and taken by G4S to Dungavel which they also operate - are held every Wednesday from midday. Meet at the Unity Centre at 30 Ibrox Street G50 1AQ Map and directions on our website.
All welcome!
UNITY! (sic)
Weegie No Borderer
Abolish Immigration Prisons day of action
16.03.2009 18:56
The G4S picket doesn't even coincide with the Brand St Wednesday pickets. It was intended both as a solidarity action with the Brand St picket, and to coincide with the day of action against immigration prisons (Saturday 21st), and seeing as G4S run many of the prisons and profit from them and have an office here in Edinburgh, they seemed a good local target for us. I'm sorry you feel this way but I think it's great to have activity against the border regime in as many different places as possible. I know the Wednesday pickets are just starting out and folk are needed there, but I personally can't travel to them, and also if people want to go to both they can, being as they are on completely different days.
Jen
Jen