Last week the young man was taken to the plane to be sent to Iran. However, he handed in a note to the crew, which was not happy to take him to face death or torture for being a Christian. So they told the HO to take him off.
Now he has been given a new deportation order. He is set to fly on Thursday, 18 June at 1900 hours on BMI flight BD 931 from Heathrow.
We are emailing his MP - Brian Iddon at iddonb@parliament.uk
and emailing BMI at businessdevelopment@flybmi.com
For further info there are now 3 posts at www.hurryupharry.org posted on 7,11 and 18 June.
Let's get this guy free and not send him back to Iran.
Monday 15 June 2009
Monday 8 June 2009
Contacting Alan Johnson re Christian convert's deportation
After getting nowhere with the system this morning, and the deportation less than 36 hours away, we called his constituency number and talked to a Tracy Windle, who was less than pleased to be bothered with such trifling details as the life or death of Christian converts. She
might have slithered away had not Dave Taylor read her the riot act over the phone, and before
she could go off to work on the duck house, he got her email and she said she would forward Mr. Johnson details of the case.
So who knows. We shall see. After the young Iranian, whose case is so marred by presumtuous officials trying to say he is not really a Christian and idiotic translators making a pig's ear of it all, there are dozens more. It is too late to stop the deportation of Adam Osman Mohammed and others who were killed and tortured upon repatriation, but we can stop such cases from happening again.
might have slithered away had not Dave Taylor read her the riot act over the phone, and before
she could go off to work on the duck house, he got her email and she said she would forward Mr. Johnson details of the case.
So who knows. We shall see. After the young Iranian, whose case is so marred by presumtuous officials trying to say he is not really a Christian and idiotic translators making a pig's ear of it all, there are dozens more. It is too late to stop the deportation of Adam Osman Mohammed and others who were killed and tortured upon repatriation, but we can stop such cases from happening again.
Further update on deportation of Iranian Christian
We've just spent the morning working on the deportation case, and not making much deadway with our elected leaders. After calling 020 7035 4848, the HO switchboard, we were told to call 0870 606 7766. This # is for UK Borders Agency, and does not do more than give you the webstite address. No human answers or even puts you on hold. We called back the first #, and pressed 5 for 'other', and ended up talking to a young man named Alex who told me I was through to the Police Line and gave me the 0870 # again.
We then called the Parliament switchboard at 020 7219 3000 and asked for Phil Woolas, the immigration minister. We were asked if we would like his constituency number, but insisted we get his Parliament line. It then went dead. Will top up my phone and continue, but maybe these guys are working on their duck houses and cannot be bovvered?
In the meantime we susses out what airline DB 931 is - BMI. Will work on getting their # and informing them that they ought not to take this person on their flight as he is in danger of his life on return to Iran.
We then called the Parliament switchboard at 020 7219 3000 and asked for Phil Woolas, the immigration minister. We were asked if we would like his constituency number, but insisted we get his Parliament line. It then went dead. Will top up my phone and continue, but maybe these guys are working on their duck houses and cannot be bovvered?
In the meantime we susses out what airline DB 931 is - BMI. Will work on getting their # and informing them that they ought not to take this person on their flight as he is in danger of his life on return to Iran.
Update on imminent deportation set for Tuesday, 9 June
The deportation of a young Iranian convert is still set to go ahead. Much debate on http://www.hurryupharry.org/ is going on, and some of the commenters on Sunday morning's post by Melvyn Kohn are already talking to their MPs. And some, such as person going by the name of Rockall666, just wants to see him deported. One comment was rather prescient:
If Alan Johnson does not intervene promptly, he will have fallen at the first hurdle, proving that he is just as useless and illiberal as his various New Labour predecessors.
Which I hope is not the case. The HO number is 020 7035 4848, from which one may or may not be able to get to someone who will do their job and stop this deportation.
The case number again is E1084499. He is currently held at Harmondsworth and his flight is BD 931 at 1900 hours.
If Alan Johnson does not intervene promptly, he will have fallen at the first hurdle, proving that he is just as useless and illiberal as his various New Labour predecessors.
Which I hope is not the case. The HO number is 020 7035 4848, from which one may or may not be able to get to someone who will do their job and stop this deportation.
The case number again is E1084499. He is currently held at Harmondsworth and his flight is BD 931 at 1900 hours.
Sunday 7 June 2009
Facts from the Home Office show decline in immigration, rise in deportations
The comments on Harry's Place in reponse to a recent post by Melvyn Kohn (Immigration policies fail asylum seekers), placed at 11am on Saturday, 6 June, contain some very ignorant comments, especially from a charater named Rocakal666. Below, taken from the Home Office website, are some facts to consider:
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Asylum figures lowest since 1993
27 February 2007
New asylum figures show that the Prime Minister's goals are achieved.
The government's 'tipping the balance' target was met in 2006, according to figures released by the Home Office today. Throughout all of last year, the number of failed asylum seekers who were deported exceeded the number of new arrivals making unfounded asylum claims.
At the same time, asylum applications continued their recent downward trend, hitting the lowest level since 1993, while the number of deportations hit an all-time high.
Last year, 18,235 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK - a 16% increase on 2005. Since 1997 removals have risen 127%.
The asylum figures for the final quarter of 2006 (new window) showed that during that time asylum applications were down 4% to 6,835 compared to the previous quarter, and removals were up 7% to 4,085.
Outperforming other European nations
The UK is outperforming other European nations, which collectively saw their own asylum applications rise by 14% in the same time period.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne called the figures 'impressive', and said they showed that the reform programmes at the Home Office and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) were making a real difference.
'This is an important step on the road to Home Office Reform,' Mr Byrne said. 'This is a substantial achievement and shows how far we have come since asylum applications were at their peak in 2002.'
New measures speed the process
The record-breaking rate of removals was the result of a package of measures brought in by the IND recently to speed up the process. These include:
ending the right of failed asylum seekers from 'safe' countries to continue to live in the UK while appealing the decision
strengthening visa handling rules and protections
improving the technology used by immigration agents on the frontlines
EU accession figures
Other figures released today were the numbers of workers from EU accession states registering to work in the UK. Between October and December 2006, 62,945 applied to work here, compared to 51,160 in the same quarter of 2005.
Mr Byrne said the Worker Registration Scheme figures 'show that migrant workers from the accession states are benefiting the UK by filling skills and labour gaps that cannot be met from the UK-born population.'
Urgent: deportation set for Tuesday we must stop
On Tuesday, 9 June, at 1900 houes, a plane will depart for Teheran. The Home Office intends to send on this flight a young man who has recently claimed asylum. He entered the UK on a valid visa, has not broken the law, and has never worked illegally or taken benefits. I will be posting more on this as the case develops, so stay tuned here, or check out www.hurryupharry.org
This is a very urgent, and very valid case. He is wanted in Iran for the 'crime' of being a Christian, after another Iranian turned him into the authorities. His case file here has been
dealt with in a very poor manner, even the translations are a mess.
But nothing surprises. It is up to us to demand justice by calling the Home Office about it -
while I cannot put his name here, it will suffice to state his HO reference # - E1084499
and from that they will be able to locate his file and stop the deportation. If they are not too
busy watching porn movies.
This is a very urgent, and very valid case. He is wanted in Iran for the 'crime' of being a Christian, after another Iranian turned him into the authorities. His case file here has been
dealt with in a very poor manner, even the translations are a mess.
But nothing surprises. It is up to us to demand justice by calling the Home Office about it -
while I cannot put his name here, it will suffice to state his HO reference # - E1084499
and from that they will be able to locate his file and stop the deportation. If they are not too
busy watching porn movies.
Saturday 6 June 2009
Reversing the backwards policies of the Home Office
The Home Office seems very efficient at sending people back to places where they are tortured and killed. Adam Osman Mohammed was killed earlier this year, many Iraqis have been killed recently, and two Congolese refugees were tortured and sexually abused after their repatriation on 13 March. But what does the HO do when an illegal alien decides to drive without a licence, kill a 12-year-old and abscond from the scene of the crime? Set him free. Thus Aso Mohammed Ibrahim is walking the streets after his crimes. In a recent chat with an asylum seeker at Colnbrook I was told that they had just let out a violent rapist. Lock these people up, along with the 229 paedophiles that were allowed to remain free last year. Make space for them and other degenerates by granting an amnesty to asylum seekers who want to work and lead decent lives.
Apparently the HO has been in reverse. Will we this turned around under the new HO Secretary, Alan Johnson?
Apparently the HO has been in reverse. Will we this turned around under the new HO Secretary, Alan Johnson?
Wednesday 3 June 2009
Freedom cut short
(below is some writing from a detainee, trying to give an account from the inside)
The courtyard has an almost religious significance. Its crude, gravelly surface, upon which football and cricket matches are played, and its stoic tan brick facades, scarce make for an inner sanctum; it is, in its own way, nonetheless, sacrosanct at times. Groups of men, at times cheerful, at times sombre, socialise, play and pace along its nondescript lengths. They smoke, they chat, and they feed the pigeons when the officers are not around to disapprove. The avian company is a bit of comic relief; the birds swoop down to share our rations of bread and biscuits, squabbling amongst themselves not unlike those who toss them their daily crumbs. But, unlike their benefactors, they are free to fly away, free to pursue their lives and loves, and free to perch on the rooftop where they congregate so often, looking down with hungry, accusing eyes. Rats with wings one guy calls them.But it is at other birds that the inmates are more inclined to pay heed, craning their heads skywards to view when they appear. We are a stone's throw from Heathrow, and the jets soar above us like winged leviathans, roaring overhead with a rude disregard for any quiet conversation in the courtyard as they transport their living cargo to parts unknown. British Airways, Continental, Air France, El Al, Uzbek Airlines, the inmates know the exact markings of each as well as Bill Oddie knows his warblers. At times the sight of a particular airline serves to concentrate minds now as much as the sight of the gallows upon those condemned in days goneby. And some of these planes are just such; high tech, high flying birds that are as much the instruments of death as the scaffold. The stairs leading to the plane are not much different than those leading to the scaffold. The victim ascends these, and is not long after back on the ground, from which he ascends no more. Adam Mohamed, before he was led to the stairs of the plane taking him to Darfur, told his captors, who had hoped would be his protectors, that if he were sent back, he would be killed. Many proofs he produced, but these were ignored. His pleas fell on deaf ears. One of those flying machines which ruin so many courtyard conversations swallowed him up and spit him out in Darfur, where he tasted freedom under the bright blue sky of his homeland. No more legal visits, no more refusals, no more nightly lockdowns, he was as free as the pigeons that feast upon our bread. Home, and how sweet it was. Back in the arms of his wife, free to hold in his own arms the children he had not seen for so long. His detention by the British Home Office was a thing of the past. Never again would he have to live behind bars and share his life with strangers. But this utopia was shortlived. He was killed the next day, shot in front of his wife and children.
A similar fate may await my roommate, whose visible evidence of torture was treated with contempt by the interviewer, and whose requests for a Medical Foundation appointment were twice blocked by the Home Office. It is clear that they no more want to hear the evidence than US Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter did when Jan Karski told him about Auschwitz in 1943. And so I fear for the young man, who is on the run from the Ergenekon. Will he too, be aboard one of these planes, escorted by four security guards and a medic who will hand him over to his oppressors in Istanbul?
The courtyard has an almost religious significance. Its crude, gravelly surface, upon which football and cricket matches are played, and its stoic tan brick facades, scarce make for an inner sanctum; it is, in its own way, nonetheless, sacrosanct at times. Groups of men, at times cheerful, at times sombre, socialise, play and pace along its nondescript lengths. They smoke, they chat, and they feed the pigeons when the officers are not around to disapprove. The avian company is a bit of comic relief; the birds swoop down to share our rations of bread and biscuits, squabbling amongst themselves not unlike those who toss them their daily crumbs. But, unlike their benefactors, they are free to fly away, free to pursue their lives and loves, and free to perch on the rooftop where they congregate so often, looking down with hungry, accusing eyes. Rats with wings one guy calls them.But it is at other birds that the inmates are more inclined to pay heed, craning their heads skywards to view when they appear. We are a stone's throw from Heathrow, and the jets soar above us like winged leviathans, roaring overhead with a rude disregard for any quiet conversation in the courtyard as they transport their living cargo to parts unknown. British Airways, Continental, Air France, El Al, Uzbek Airlines, the inmates know the exact markings of each as well as Bill Oddie knows his warblers. At times the sight of a particular airline serves to concentrate minds now as much as the sight of the gallows upon those condemned in days goneby. And some of these planes are just such; high tech, high flying birds that are as much the instruments of death as the scaffold. The stairs leading to the plane are not much different than those leading to the scaffold. The victim ascends these, and is not long after back on the ground, from which he ascends no more. Adam Mohamed, before he was led to the stairs of the plane taking him to Darfur, told his captors, who had hoped would be his protectors, that if he were sent back, he would be killed. Many proofs he produced, but these were ignored. His pleas fell on deaf ears. One of those flying machines which ruin so many courtyard conversations swallowed him up and spit him out in Darfur, where he tasted freedom under the bright blue sky of his homeland. No more legal visits, no more refusals, no more nightly lockdowns, he was as free as the pigeons that feast upon our bread. Home, and how sweet it was. Back in the arms of his wife, free to hold in his own arms the children he had not seen for so long. His detention by the British Home Office was a thing of the past. Never again would he have to live behind bars and share his life with strangers. But this utopia was shortlived. He was killed the next day, shot in front of his wife and children.
A similar fate may await my roommate, whose visible evidence of torture was treated with contempt by the interviewer, and whose requests for a Medical Foundation appointment were twice blocked by the Home Office. It is clear that they no more want to hear the evidence than US Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter did when Jan Karski told him about Auschwitz in 1943. And so I fear for the young man, who is on the run from the Ergenekon. Will he too, be aboard one of these planes, escorted by four security guards and a medic who will hand him over to his oppressors in Istanbul?
Heroin dealers and the Taleban at Harmondsworth
People on Sunday in the 17 May issue ran a story about Harmondsworth Removals Centre. Daniel Jones gave us a rivetting account, allegedly smuggled out by a Turk named Suleyman Ergun. "Armed gangs, heroin pushers and violence are daily rituals at Harmondsworth, near Heathrow," it tells us, before going on to the diary entry for 30 April, when Ergun claims he is offered crack and heroin. It goes on like this for days, and indeed paints a picture darker than the darkest Goya. From the general public it drew gasps. But from the detainees of Harmondsworth, it only elicited laughs; except for those who felt vilified by the dramatic claims. The Afghans were Taleban members and bullies; the Kurds, suicidal maniacs; the Jamaicans violent thieving drug dealers; and on it went. And of course, for good measure, there is a story about a Tunisian coming back from the airport with bruises and a tale of being beaten up by the guards. Having spent the last few weeks as a translator for many of these men, I seriously doubt all of the claims; indeed, the perception exists that the whole account was a self-serving vehicle for him to assert that he roots for the England team, and the rest of the lot in there, save for one or two disabled men for whom his heart bleeds immensely. "Most detainees hate the UK," he claims. But on examination his claims do not seem to stand up. My own experience is that most detainees love it here, that is why they are trying to be here permanently. The young men wear Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, or, yes, England shirts. Football and cricket are ties that bind many of them to these isles. And what are we to make of the cloak-and-dagger opening about smugging out the account - the detainees spend hours every day on the internet or on mobile phones and have access to a fax machine. Ergun, who claims he has been here all his life, certainly has access, or have the sadistic guards deprived him of such? An account I received, and not smuggled out, but more mundaley, sent by email, tells me that the hapless Turk tried to change his wing, but complained vociferously when put in a room with Afghans; then he was discovered as the author of the People on Sunday story, and since, his whereabouts have become a mystery. So we may have seen the last of this person, unless, as is rumoured, the same paper is to run more of his claims. But from many on the inside, I hear that this is all fabrication. There are no gangs, no drugs, and the Kalyx staff are actually well respected for the difficult jobs they have to do. The Afghans are vehemently anti-Taleban, which they are fleeing. Far from being hardened jihadists, they spend many hours in the company of former US Navy military men, each learning the other's language. Most of the Jamaicans spend their time in Bible study (when not with their lawyers). And as for the Kurds, far from being suicidal maniacs, they are in fact fleeing the Turks, especially the Ergenekon, which is the Turkish Secret Police. As the very name Ergun is a shadow of this feared institution, he would hardly have made friends among them; but was he about to face danger at their hands? I know them well and can tell you that he was in for no more than a few questions. But from these unpleasant possibilities, the staff at Harmondsworth has been obliged to shield him by removing him, for his own good, to parts unkown. But that in itself may provide fodder for a yet more exciting narrative in the future. We may yet hear more of this, smuggled out in the dead of night. But when we do, there are already those who have noted that Ergun, whilst he vilifies all and sundry, omits critical details about his own past, such as his bragging about running around France with a car full of heroin and weapons.
But this does not matter to the sensational churnalist of today who will take a report from such a person and run with it. They do not care that these accounts turn public opinion against the many asylum seekers who are locked up for sometimes years at at time. The fact that the HO puts in self-confessed heroin dealers adds insult to their injury. But the HO is not believed fit for purpose.
It it time to stop listening to the rubbish press and change that course. I am for a general amnesty for asylum seekers and people who are willing to work. However, I am NOT for a blanket amnesty for all. Gun toting heroin dealers who write nonsense to the press I would boot out, along with Jacqui Smith and Phil Woolas and a number of their colleagues.
But this does not matter to the sensational churnalist of today who will take a report from such a person and run with it. They do not care that these accounts turn public opinion against the many asylum seekers who are locked up for sometimes years at at time. The fact that the HO puts in self-confessed heroin dealers adds insult to their injury. But the HO is not believed fit for purpose.
It it time to stop listening to the rubbish press and change that course. I am for a general amnesty for asylum seekers and people who are willing to work. However, I am NOT for a blanket amnesty for all. Gun toting heroin dealers who write nonsense to the press I would boot out, along with Jacqui Smith and Phil Woolas and a number of their colleagues.
Jacqui Smith and the rolling heads
Stones cast at the Home Secretary over the years have finally served their purpose. Jacqui Smith is going to step down in the next cabinet reshuffle, which looks like next week. European election results will show how well Labour fares and from this Gordon Brown will make some decisions. Cabinet reshuffles have been very common in the Blair/Brown years, and we are set for one in the days to come. The Home Office has had Blunkett, Reid, Clarke, and who else? I cannot remember. Not that it makes a difference. It is all a shambles. Under Smith, illegal aliens were hired to work in security firms, and a number managed to get their hands on Blair's car as they were hired to work in a garage. Smith simply tried to keep mum about it. So heads will roll very soon. And more heads will be exalted to office. It's called musical chairs. And then we have an election. And who knows. But of all this change, do we really expect any change? I would not hold my breath. Rather, I will be using mine to advocate change; but change is a very bad word. For, in fact, we did get change. Remember when British citizens, if they did not break the law, were not subject to arrest, as they had not broken the law? Thus, if not subject to arrest, they could not be extradited to a foreign country, as, quite simply, they had not broken the law? And, bear with me yet a bit more here, there had to be prima facie evidence presented if and when a foreign power did ask for the extradition of a UK citizen? Well, guess what, we have change. Blunkett signed into law some newfangled extradition treaty with the US a few years back, his many successors have seen fit to uphold these treaties - the drafts of which were written in American English and handed to MPs as if they were the ten commandments - and now totally innocent Britons have been facing a legal nightmare. Or illegal nightmare. Take the case of Ian Norris for instance. He was the CEO of Morgan Crucible, a job he got after 30 years of service to that firm. He followed the letter of the law in regards pricing policies, but disagreed with price fixing agreements, so he went to the powers that be to have them outlawed. He then retired. Off he was to play golf in his Thames Valley Country Club when the long arm of the law in the US decided he would spend his retirement in a US prison. Quite simple it would have been to tell this lot that he had not broken the law, and whatever they thought of any previous practices, they were not only legal at the time, but, he had not committed them on US soil. One might think that, but John Reid and his junior minister Joan Ryan did not. I still recall sitting in the gallery in Parliament one Wednesday when Ryan tried to argue that these were very good laws indeed. I watched closely her facial expressions and wondered. Was she on drugs? Who paid her to say such idiotic rubbish? The Times the next day reported she was 'digging herself in'. And deeply she dug, but it was not just herself that had fallen in. She was opening the door to a foreign power to extradite British citizens even when no crime had been committed. 'Robust', she called the measures. Ecstasy? Crack? Prozac? LSD? To this day I have no idea which drug she may have been taking. Can she have really been that stupid? We may never know. But there is a fear that this woman can actually be the next Home Secretary. Stranger things have happened. But whoever replaces the hapless Smith, that person will be lobbied to release asylum seekers without delay. We simply cannot have blood on our hands and keep thousands of people in enforced idleness at a great cost to the taxpayer. There have been sensible proposals on the table and now is the time to act on them. So, Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss or Ms next Home Secretary, please make this a priority, and then get rid of these treasonous extradition laws that have been used to undermine British justice. Or your head, too, will be the next to roll.
Colnbrook Detention Centre
In yesterday's Independent, an article about Colnbrook Detention Centre, by Robert Verkaik, discussed the report by Anne Owers, the Chief Inspector of Prisons. It noted that the use of force to control inmates had increased and was not always well managed. In a three month period there had been 179 complaints from inmates. Dame Anne noted"...we have found little improvement at Colnbrook since our last visit...there were examples of separation being misused and the vulnerable persons unit was not fit for purpose."
She also found: "A significant number of complaints, including allegations of staff bullying, were not adequately investigated and lacked detail."
Colnbrook is considered to be the flagship centre, run by a foreign company, Serco. Verkaik's report, however, is anodyne compared to what our undercover investigators have uncovered, including the illegal holding of underage persons, placed there by the Home Office despite evidence that they were illegally imprisoning the wrong individual.
These and other centres are a humanitarian disaster which must be stopped.
She also found: "A significant number of complaints, including allegations of staff bullying, were not adequately investigated and lacked detail."
Colnbrook is considered to be the flagship centre, run by a foreign company, Serco. Verkaik's report, however, is anodyne compared to what our undercover investigators have uncovered, including the illegal holding of underage persons, placed there by the Home Office despite evidence that they were illegally imprisoning the wrong individual.
These and other centres are a humanitarian disaster which must be stopped.
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Britain's Guantanamo Bay
The 20 or so detentions centres in the UK are eyesores and a burden on the taxpayer. For some reason, the Labour government has farmed these out to foreign companies to run. British workers grind away for their paycheques, portions of which they hand to the government, which in turn hands the dosh to foreign companies. Little wonder, when a British defence company can be sold to a foreign bidder to the exclusion of British bidders. Quinetic was a sweet little deal between two men named Blair and Bush, both of whom can be said to have gained. The latter's company, Carlyle, paid £40 million for a 31% stake in this firm. Not long afterwards, their stake was worth £335 million. So it is not hard to see what Bush gained, but one can only guess what Blair got out of the deal. He certainly lives well, what with his £3.6 million house in Connaught Square, gaurded 24/7 at further cost to the taxpayer.
Other companies to be treated to lucrative contracts include Serco, Kalyx and GEO. All three run asylum detention centres. Presently, GEO is set to take over the Harmondsworth facility near Hearthrow. The transfer takes effect on the 29th of this month. GEO is looking to house 620 inmates, at the cost to the taxpayer of £90,000 per head. That translates to £55.8 million a year, of which, at a profit rate of 20%, the US investors will take £11.16 million. What with 20 of these facilities, we are looking at a lot of money going out of the country, in a time of deep economic crisis.
But there is another twist to this tale: GEO is the company that runs the prison at Guantanamo Bay. Bringing it here is an insult. Years ago, on a post at Harry's Place, it was called "Britain's equivalent of Guantanamo Bay." What is Jacqui Smith thinking, bringing over this firm? Why does she not think about the British economy first?
Such questions will have to be rhetorical, they only serve to illustrate a point in the whole issue. What we need is not large ugly detention centres, run for a profit for the sake of foreign companies, but a sensible policy instituted for the sake of all parties involved - which includes asylum seekers and the British taxpayer, but does not include GEO and other entities that have sullied their hands with involvement in Guantanamo Bay. Recently a group called Strangers into Citizens proposed an amnesty that received support from Boris Johnson. It straddles both sides of the political spectrum because is makes sense. In blunt financial terms, it is estimated to be worth £4.7 billion to the UK; and of course, in much greater terms, it is an absolute necessity. Opponents, not surprisingly, included Phil Woolas, who was in turn opposed by Jon Cruddas of his own party. The fact that Spain has had an amnesty going for the last two years and has found it successful, in fact, Spain claims that illegal entry is on the decline since the amnesty went into effect.
So what then, would we do with the Harmondsworth facility if we were not housing asylum seekers in a state of forced idleness? Given its proximity to Heathrow airport, which is expected to experience an increase in visitors with the additional runway, might we not turn it into a £100 a night hotel and bring revenue into Britain?
That is not, however, going to be done if we do not take the initiative and let these high paid employees, to wit, Woolas and Smith, know that they are supposed to do their job. They had to do when Joanna Lumley and her brigade made an issue of the Ghurka visas, even though that issue, though a very good one, was not a matter of life-or-death, nor a matter of economic importance. The amnesty is both, and ought to be implemented immediately. We do not need any more Guantanamo Bays or the companies that run such centres.
Other companies to be treated to lucrative contracts include Serco, Kalyx and GEO. All three run asylum detention centres. Presently, GEO is set to take over the Harmondsworth facility near Hearthrow. The transfer takes effect on the 29th of this month. GEO is looking to house 620 inmates, at the cost to the taxpayer of £90,000 per head. That translates to £55.8 million a year, of which, at a profit rate of 20%, the US investors will take £11.16 million. What with 20 of these facilities, we are looking at a lot of money going out of the country, in a time of deep economic crisis.
But there is another twist to this tale: GEO is the company that runs the prison at Guantanamo Bay. Bringing it here is an insult. Years ago, on a post at Harry's Place, it was called "Britain's equivalent of Guantanamo Bay." What is Jacqui Smith thinking, bringing over this firm? Why does she not think about the British economy first?
Such questions will have to be rhetorical, they only serve to illustrate a point in the whole issue. What we need is not large ugly detention centres, run for a profit for the sake of foreign companies, but a sensible policy instituted for the sake of all parties involved - which includes asylum seekers and the British taxpayer, but does not include GEO and other entities that have sullied their hands with involvement in Guantanamo Bay. Recently a group called Strangers into Citizens proposed an amnesty that received support from Boris Johnson. It straddles both sides of the political spectrum because is makes sense. In blunt financial terms, it is estimated to be worth £4.7 billion to the UK; and of course, in much greater terms, it is an absolute necessity. Opponents, not surprisingly, included Phil Woolas, who was in turn opposed by Jon Cruddas of his own party. The fact that Spain has had an amnesty going for the last two years and has found it successful, in fact, Spain claims that illegal entry is on the decline since the amnesty went into effect.
So what then, would we do with the Harmondsworth facility if we were not housing asylum seekers in a state of forced idleness? Given its proximity to Heathrow airport, which is expected to experience an increase in visitors with the additional runway, might we not turn it into a £100 a night hotel and bring revenue into Britain?
That is not, however, going to be done if we do not take the initiative and let these high paid employees, to wit, Woolas and Smith, know that they are supposed to do their job. They had to do when Joanna Lumley and her brigade made an issue of the Ghurka visas, even though that issue, though a very good one, was not a matter of life-or-death, nor a matter of economic importance. The amnesty is both, and ought to be implemented immediately. We do not need any more Guantanamo Bays or the companies that run such centres.
Sent back to die
On 13 March this year, two men travelled to the Congo. But unlike most of the men on their flight, they were not going voluntarily. They were forced to repatriate despite evidence that torture awaited them. Their pleas fell on the deaf ears of Jacqui Smith and her team at the UK Home Office. The men, Rabin Waba Muambi and Nsimbi Kumbi, reports Diane Taylor in the Guardian on 27 May, were both brutally tortured. Kumbi was jailed in the notorious Kin Maziere facility, where he was beaten, burned and forced to perform sex acts on male guards. Muambi was stripped, beaten and forced to drink his own urine.
But do not expect an apology from Smith. She may well be too busy watching porn movies with her husband or filing for refunds on her selfish expenditures. The taxpayer is forced to pay for her sex movies, her drain plugs, and also for her errors in judgement when the HO deports people to places where they are tortured or killed. The price of porn movies and drain plugs may only come to shillings and pence, but the price of human life and liberty is not so cheap.
But, one might argue, these were just some simple errors. Oh that they were indeed isolated incidents. But they are far from that. Talk to detainees in the system and you will find countless stories about people sent back to die. In Iraq, for instance; or Darfur, where Adam Mohamed tasted briefly of liberty after months in a UK detention centre. He told the HO he would be killed if he was sent back. He was, within 24 hours. The last hours of his life were recorded by Robert Verkaik in his 17 March Independent article, titled "Sent back by Britain. Executed by Darfur."
But Smith and her team had deemed the Sudan to be safe, along with Pakistan, the Congo, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone and other well known trouble spots that she and her porn loving husband do not choose to visit on their weekends.
We have heard about all this for years, but what are we doing? The purpose of this blog is t0 get an amnesty for asylum seekers in the UK. Recently we cheered on the Ghurkas after Smith's team tried to deny them entry. Good as that victory was, it did not address the more crucial cases of people who are under real threat of death and torture. These cases are more urgent, but sadly, they get neglected. Why?
We will be posting here the stories of those who are at risk of such deportations, and making petitions here for the general public to get involved. If our leaders are not going to dop their jobs, then we must step in and act.
But do not expect an apology from Smith. She may well be too busy watching porn movies with her husband or filing for refunds on her selfish expenditures. The taxpayer is forced to pay for her sex movies, her drain plugs, and also for her errors in judgement when the HO deports people to places where they are tortured or killed. The price of porn movies and drain plugs may only come to shillings and pence, but the price of human life and liberty is not so cheap.
But, one might argue, these were just some simple errors. Oh that they were indeed isolated incidents. But they are far from that. Talk to detainees in the system and you will find countless stories about people sent back to die. In Iraq, for instance; or Darfur, where Adam Mohamed tasted briefly of liberty after months in a UK detention centre. He told the HO he would be killed if he was sent back. He was, within 24 hours. The last hours of his life were recorded by Robert Verkaik in his 17 March Independent article, titled "Sent back by Britain. Executed by Darfur."
But Smith and her team had deemed the Sudan to be safe, along with Pakistan, the Congo, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone and other well known trouble spots that she and her porn loving husband do not choose to visit on their weekends.
We have heard about all this for years, but what are we doing? The purpose of this blog is t0 get an amnesty for asylum seekers in the UK. Recently we cheered on the Ghurkas after Smith's team tried to deny them entry. Good as that victory was, it did not address the more crucial cases of people who are under real threat of death and torture. These cases are more urgent, but sadly, they get neglected. Why?
We will be posting here the stories of those who are at risk of such deportations, and making petitions here for the general public to get involved. If our leaders are not going to dop their jobs, then we must step in and act.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)