Detainees at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre in Lincolnshire have been experiencing lengthy periods of lock down since 24th Nov. The following communications have been received from detainees.

Petition signed by 61 detainees against lock down on 24th and 25th November:

We residents of Morton Hall have compiled the following reasons due to unfair treatment by Morton Hall Directors and Staff:
On 24th November 2011: Detainees failed to have access to buying credit to call their legal representatives, family and friends due to unlawful lock up from 2030hrs 24th of November till 1630hrs 25th November.

When directors were confronted by detainees as why the Lock up was placed, they mentioned that they needed to do cell check up, something that took them the whole day and afternoon.

On the 25th November 2011: Detainees on Fry Unit were locked up without prior notice as to why: Again when Directors were asked why they had done so the answer was because of health and safety risk of a fallen bin bag in the corridors, something that could have been done overnight by night staff.
We demand justification for such excuses, as we are not prisoners. We failed to call our families and representatives due to unfair lock up, without prior notice of the actions.
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On 30th Nov staff claimed to have found evidence of an escape attempt and all visits to the centre were  suspended. Detainees were locked down for a further 48 hours. A second petition was circulated:

We the detainees were subject to Lock down on 30.11.2011 earlier then usual time as some detainee peacefully protested by the astro (Football ) where detainee protested as earlier on 30.11.2011 detainee Vassell were attacked by gang of officer and taken to RFA.

During the protest about 30 detainee stayed out for 30 minutes then the detainees came to individual room.

Early in the morning of 01.12.2011 we were given first of the notice to detainee  to our shock it stated an attempted escape were discovered and  2 member of staff were assaulted.

Then through out the day detainees were taken to different HMP (Namly Lincoln and Nottingham and other HMP)

Only 2 detainees were sent to different detention centre one to Dover and one to Colnbrook.

Such was Unlawful lock up against detention service order authorised by the parliament.