Immigration Removing Centre at Yarl’s Wooden relies in Bedfordshire
Yarl’s Wooden is no longer getting used as an Immigration Removing Centre (IRC) for girls and has been repurposed to accommodate Channel migrants, the BBC understands.
Sources counsel the previous couple of feminine detainees left the positioning, close to Milton Earnest, Bedfordshire, final week.
In Could, the inhabitants of Yarl’s Wooden and different IRCs was diminished dramatically as a results of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now the centre will likely be used to accommodate dozens of Channel migrants to verify their well being and immigration standing.
It’s thought a scarcity of capability in Dover can also be behind the transfer.
Yarl’s Wooden, which opened in 2001, has a capability of about 400 – which at its peak has been overwhelmingly populated by girls.
Regardless of the centre being repurposed, the Dwelling Workplace stated it might proceed to hunt the removing of ladies who have been within the nation illegally.
Eulalee Pennant, 62, who was detained there for seven weeks through the Windrush scandal in 2018 stated: “I’m glad there are no feminine detainees left.
“What is going to make me really feel higher is for it to close down fully. It’s a waste of tax-payers’ cash.”
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EPA
Yarl’s Wooden will now accommodate migrants who’ve been arriving within the UK at ports such as Dover
A spokesperson for the Dwelling Workplace stated: “Owing to motion as a results of the Covid-19 pandemic, the variety of girls in detention within the UK is low.
“We’re at present housing this small group in immigration detention lodging with services for girls aside from Yarl’s Wooden.”
The previous shadow dwelling secretary, Diane Abbot, stated Yarl’s Wooden had been “jinxed from the beginning” after a significant fireplace in 2002.
She stated when she visited the centre final yr she discovered many ladies have been being “held with out good purpose”.
“Had I change into Dwelling Secretary, I might have positively closed the place,” she added.
Security issues following the fireplace meant that Yarl’s Wooden – which was supposed to carry 900 individuals – has solely ever accommodated about 400 at one time.
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