Oakington Reception Centre
0 Comments Published by Tom Woodcock on Sunday, October 02, 2005 at 11:55 AM.
Oakington Reception Centre - sent 2/10/05
To Whom It May Concern:
Cambridge Respect are very concerned for the wellbeing of asylum seekers at the Immigration reception centre in Oakington following the discovery of an unexploded WW2 bomb close to the centre. It was discovered on Friday but it took until Sunday to make the device safe. Asylum seekers appear not to have been moved to safety over the weekend even though the bomb was perceived to be dangerous enough to warrant the evacuation of residents in near bye houses as well as many staff from the centre.
We are concerned that staff and detainees were left in danger for much of the weekend and without translators and legal advice, potentially unable to communicate, leaving asylum seekers with little idea of what was going on.
By keeping asylum seekers under lock and key the British Government is already showing contempt and knowingly leaving detainees in danger, further compounds this vulnerable and distressing process. Asylum seekers need and are entitled to translators and legal advisors and it is inhumane and illegal to prevent access to these services.
We are asking for an independent investigation into whether sufficient safety and evacuation procedures are in place in detention centre. If so were they adhered to on Friday the 30th of September, Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of October 2005. Further to this we ask if you can guarantee the safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers in you custody, especially during an emergency. We would also like to visit the centre with the aid of translators in order to talk to detainees and employees.
I anticipate your response and hope you will be able to follow up our requests
Yours truly,
Tom Woodcock
Cambridge Respect – The Unity Coalition
To Whom It May Concern:
Cambridge Respect are very concerned for the wellbeing of asylum seekers at the Immigration reception centre in Oakington following the discovery of an unexploded WW2 bomb close to the centre. It was discovered on Friday but it took until Sunday to make the device safe. Asylum seekers appear not to have been moved to safety over the weekend even though the bomb was perceived to be dangerous enough to warrant the evacuation of residents in near bye houses as well as many staff from the centre.
We are concerned that staff and detainees were left in danger for much of the weekend and without translators and legal advice, potentially unable to communicate, leaving asylum seekers with little idea of what was going on.
By keeping asylum seekers under lock and key the British Government is already showing contempt and knowingly leaving detainees in danger, further compounds this vulnerable and distressing process. Asylum seekers need and are entitled to translators and legal advisors and it is inhumane and illegal to prevent access to these services.
We are asking for an independent investigation into whether sufficient safety and evacuation procedures are in place in detention centre. If so were they adhered to on Friday the 30th of September, Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of October 2005. Further to this we ask if you can guarantee the safety and wellbeing of asylum seekers in you custody, especially during an emergency. We would also like to visit the centre with the aid of translators in order to talk to detainees and employees.
I anticipate your response and hope you will be able to follow up our requests
Yours truly,
Tom Woodcock
Cambridge Respect – The Unity Coalition
Labels: Local Respect, Oakington/Immigration
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