New immigration removal centre opened in Lincolnshire
Immigration Minister, Damian Green, has officially opened a new immigration removal centre (IRC) on 1 June 2011. The new centre is part of the high profile and intensive mission to crack down on immigration and abuses of the system.The new facility will be able to hold 392 men whilst their removal from the UK is being arranged. These men will mainly include illegal over-stayers, failed asylum seekers and foreign national prisoners.
The first detainees were accepted into the IRC last month and the centre will be fully operational by September this year.
The opening of this new centre now means that the UK Border Agency can hold up to 3,400 people in detention at any one time.
The new IRC, Morton Hall, is in Swinderby and used to be a prison. It’s main function will be to detain people whilst their removal from the UK is being arranged.
The increased capacity at the facility will allow the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to keep individuals separate from the community and deport them directly from the facility. Last year more than 16,500 people were removed from the UK directly from removal centres.
Damian Green has welcomed the new facility as a ‘welcome addition to the UK Border Agency’s estate’ and said, ‘Let the message be clear, the UK is no longer an easy touch for illegal immigrants. We are reforming the system to make it more effective to ensure those with no right to be here are removed.’
The opening of this new detention centre is part of the recent crackdown on immigration abuses and organised crime. This crackdown has already resulted in 1,400 arrests, 330 prosecutions and 260 removals.
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