| Feedback : "Outsourcing Abuse" Press Conference - 14/07/08 |
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| Written by Emma Ginn | |
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Photo above : Diane Abbott MP Feedback : The “Outsourcing Abuse” Press ConferenceGarden Court Chambers, 14th July 2008.
The Press Conference launched the "Outsourcing Abuse - The use and misuse of state-sanctioned force during the detention and removal of asylum seekers" report (download here ) by Birnberg Peirce & Partners, Medical Justice and NCADC which describes an alarming number of injuries sustained by asylum deportees at the hand of private “escorts” contracted by the Home Office. It reveals evidence of widespread and seemingly systemic abuse of vulnerable people who have fled to the UK seeking safety and refuge, and that assault claims have largely been brushed off by the Home Office. Speakers included ; Diane Abbott MP
Photo : Maria Gurtova, taken by Ed Goldwyn.
Photo : Mafungasei Maikokera, taken by Ed Goldwyn.
Photo : Beatrice Guessi, taken by Ed Goldwyn.
Photo : Suren Khachatryan, taken by Ed Goldwyn. The Press Conference was attended by 15 ex-detainees featured in the “Outsourcing Abuse” report together with journalists from the Press Association, the Independent, the Guardian, a number of freelance journalists, film directors and organisations including UNHCR.
Photo : Dr Charmian Goldwyn, medical Justice volunteer, together with the Guardian's James Sturcke and Arj Singh. Diane Abbott said that in the 20 years she has been an MP, “the way in which we treat asylum seekers has never been worse and never more distorted by popular panics and pressures from the tabloid media”. She said that the “dossier” of cases we published were “really shameful, shameful to the Home Office”. Diane said that she has often made complaints to the Home Office but that they had always responded saying “show us the cases”. Diane said that we have got the cases now and that she will push for a proper inquiry and that action is taken to ensure this kind of thing can never happen again – “there is no reason why this should happen in a civilised country.”
Photo : Alex Gask, Liberty. Ex-detainees travelled in to London from Cardiff, Liverpool, Huddersfield and Leeds. Many of them spoke at the Press Conference of their experience of abuse.
Photo, from left to right : Emma Ginn, Maria Gurtova, Dr. Frank Arnold, Diane Abbott MP. Media coverage included ;Radio - National radio coverage included pre-recorded quotes from Emma Ginn, co-author of the report, on BBC Radio 4 Today Programme (third item on their rolling news bulletins), the BBC World Service, and BBC Radio 5 Live. There was an interview on BBC Radio Wales with Suren Khachatryan from Armenia, who lives in Cardiff, and whose case was featured in the report. BBC 3 Counties, in whose broadcast area Yarl’s Wood detention centre is included, did a phone-interview with Emma Ginn on their breakfast programme.
Photo : Omar Mostafa, whose case featured in the report. ReactionsThe victims – Feedback from victims included that they felt the report was accurate. As ever, some were nervous about having spoken out and feared retribution in some form by the Home Office. All were anxious that we hold the Home Office to account and achieve some justice. One person said ;"Being a victim myself, I was shocked that brutality was being administered at such a scale. Lives have been wrecked. Some people have been left physically and mentally damaged for life. Most victims feel this a first step in the right direction to get redress and possibly put perpetrators on trial. People fleeing persecution should never have to experience this kind of treatment in the UK."
Photo : Dr. Frank Arnold and Maria Gurtova, both Medical Justice volunteers. Those campaigning for asylum rights – The report was very welcomed by many. Hamish Arnott, solicitor at Bhatt Murphy, said “the report is really strong and looks fantastic” - this typified the response. The general feeling is that the issue of alleged assaults is known to have been a massive and most appalling on-going abuse for years, but has been so difficult to document. Everyone seemed to be relieved that it has finally been evidenced and that the report will be an effective tool in exposing and challenging the Home Office.
The Home Office - The Independent reported on the response they received from the Home Office and its contractors ; “It is understood that the UK Borders Agency has received 89 complaints since October 2006, of which three were substantiated. Another 10 were partly upheld, relating to issues such as rudeness or inefficiency. A spokesperson for the agency said: "We have been asking for this information for at least nine months. We are glad that something has finally arrived. We will review it and where necessary will refer it to the police." Group4Securicor has told The Independent that it investigates all allegations properly and instructs its escort teams to treat all asylum-seekers with respect. Other firms have declined to comment on similar allegations.” The volume of complaints the Home Office refers to is not in synch with ours, or the numbers the Complaints Audit Committee told us about. As for the nine months the Home Office say they have been waiting for the information – in many cases they have had the information themselves for years and many of the victims had not even had an acknowledgement of the complaints they have made. It seems that the Home Office are simply reinforcing our message ; they don’t seem to have a clue what’s going on. Or worse, they do. Both Lord Ramsbotham and Diane Abbott MP have written formal letters to the Home Office about the report ; Lord Ramsbotham has not had a substantive response, just an acknowledgement to his letter – Dianne Abbott hasn’t even had that.
Photo : Harriet Wistrich, Birnberg Peirce & Partners. What next ?(Re)investigation of alleged assaults
Photo : handcuff injuries of Mr RH (Burundi), feature in the report. "Outsourcing Abuse" Public Meeting - Wedesday 10th December 200811.00 am to 1pm, Committee room 14, House of Commons. Hosted by Diane Abbott MP. All welcome. More details to be circulated soon. There will be specific campaigning activities leading up to the Public Meeting and everyone will be invited to join in. Please contact Emma Ginn at Medical Justice for any queries or to register your interest : email
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or call 07904 778365.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 22 October 2008 ) |
We published the report with no formal funding. We appeal for donations to cover the costs of printing 250 copies of the report and the press conference, which added up to £1,480. A further £600 would enable us to print another 250 copies. All donations gratefully received by cheque made out to “Medical Justice” and posted to 30 Portland Rise, London, N4 2PP – please write “Outsourcing Abuse” on the back of the cheque. Donations can also be made by electronic bank transfer or a standing order – | < Prev | Next > |
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