Desperation at Morton Hall
Published:
August 15, 2012 08:27
by Nb |
Neighbourhoods: lincolnshire morton_hall swinderby
There was more unrest at Morton Hall Immigration Removals Centre yesterday, when a detainee got on the roof and threatened to commit suicide. According to other detainees the man got on the roof soon after 8am. The centre was put under lockdown and we have been unable to get any news of what happened to the man.
This event comes only a few weeks after a mass protest by detainees over being "treated like dogs" by the UK Borders Agency and prison authorities. Reports from inside Morton Hall indicate that at least two of those involved in that protest were sent to prisons in the aftermath and a man who was informing the media about what was going via the internet was marched out by a group of guards and hasn't been seen since.
Morton Hall has seen almost constant unrest since it opened about a year ago. Two detainees escaped soon after it opened and there was a significant protest about the arbitrary actions of the prison authorities in December last year, following which 18 detainees were transferred to prisons or other detention centres.
As politicians battle with one another to look the toughest on immigration and asylum, flouting EU human rights legislation by detaining people indefinitely, the tensions will continue to rise and the desperation of those locked up with no release date will continue to boil over behind the prison walls.
In solidarity with migrant struggles. Free movement for everyone!
Comments
Previous report not reliable
Published: August 17, 2012 08:23
by
NB
It seems they got the man down safely.
Third detainee threatens to jump from detention centre rooftop
Marishka Van Steenbergen
The Northerner Blog, The Guardian
15 August 2012
Nigerian man is brought down safely after seven hour protest against his immigration case and the length of time spent at Morton Hall in Lincolnshire
A Nigerian man is the third detainee in less than three weeks to protest about his prolonged detention at Morton Hall detention centre in Swinderby, Lincolnshire. He climbed the nine-meter high Fry building at 8.15am yesterday, Tuesday 14 August, and threatened to jump off the roof.
Dave Hewitt from Morton Hall Visitors Group said: "The man is saying he's going to commit suicide and the rest of the detainees are under lockdown."
Another Nigerian detainee at Morton Hall said of the man on the roof: "He is frustrated with his situation here, he has been detained for over a year now and he says there is no reason for them to keep him here. He is threatening to jump and there is an in-house negotiator trying to convince him to come down. I think they are going to have to wait until he is exhausted because he refuses to come down."
This is the third protest at Morton Hall, with the previous ones happening in July when two detainees scaled the centre's rooftops and threatened to jump within less than 24 hours of each other. The detainees, a Palestinian and a Malaysian were allegedly protesting at the 'disrespect' and 'inhumane' treatment they claim to be experiencing, including being detained for prolonged periods.
A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: "There is currently a protest ongoing at Morton Hall involving one detainee who has scaled the roof. We are working with the Prison Service to resolve the situation."
He later added: "The one-man protest at Morton Hall in which a detainee scaled the roof of the centre has been resolved. The Nigerian man, who was protesting about his own immigration case, was talked down safe and well shortly after 3pm."
Latest articles feed
Latest info
I have heard from detainees that there were two men on the roof yesterday. One man jumped and injured himself. As a result of the incident one man has been taken to prison and the other has been removed to Dungavel detention centre in Scotland.
The food situation that sparked unrest last month has still not been resolved. Muslim detainees fasting for Ramadan say they are still not getting enough food after sunset and are going hungry at night.