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Yarl's Wood detainees to sue the Home Office
11 women taking legal action
A group of detainees who claim they suffered 'inhumane and degrading treatment' while at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are suing the Home Office.
The 11 women have employed Leigh Day & Co solicitors to seek damages from the government and Serco, the private security company which runs the Clapham detention centre.
The women, who are still detained and are on hunger strike, allege that their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and their rights not to be tortured, suffer inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment were all breached by employees of Serco.
The breach occurred when around 70 women gathered peacefully to present a petition against the conditions and treatment at the centre to representatives of the UK Borders Agency.
The Times & Citizen reported on February 11 that detainees were locked in a corridor by Serco employees for about eight hours with little ventilation and without the use of lavatories and medical treatment.
Frances Swaine, partner and head of the human rights department at the law firm said: "My clients have told me that the corridor soon became highly unpleasant and unsanitary.
"Women with existing medical conditions including HIV, asthma and sickle cell anaemia were being denied their medication and treatment leading to a severe deterioration in their health.
"Other women became unwell, some hyperventilated and others collapsed."
She added: "Some women called for an ambulance on their mobile phones, but later found out they were denied entry to the detention centre.
"This is one very serious incident, but having read their petition and talked to the women I was appalled to discover the general poor treatment and conditions they are expected to live in on a daily basis."
Leigh Day & Co is now seeking a declaration to the effect that the detainees rights were violated, and appropriate damages from Serco and the Home Office.
A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "The well-being of detainees is of paramount concern to the UK Border Agency, which is why all detainees were monitored by healthcare staff - as well as members of the Independent Monitoring Board – throughout the protest.
"The demonstration remained passive at all times and there was no use of force.
"The detainees were integrated back into the centre at the earliest opportunity.
"All the individuals involved have been found by us and independent judges to have no right to stay in the UK.
"Those motivated by their welfare should work with us to encourage them to act responsibly and to voluntarily leave the UK."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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