This month’s regular demonstration at Derwentside (Hassockfield) Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) on Saturday 18 February from 12 noon to 2pm takes its inspiration from the recent Valentine’s Day campaign organised by Women for Refugee Women. This campaign saw hundreds of cards sent by post to the two main private corporations in control of the UK’s immigration detention centres, including Mitie who hold the government contract for Derwentside IRC near Consett on the site of the notorious former boys’ detention centre (Medomsley later renamed Hassockfield) where historic abuse took place.
Valentine cards
No To Hassockfield supported the WFRW campaign by distributing the printed Valentine cards at a packed fundraising event in Newcastle on 4 February. Supporters were urged to send the cards to Directors and Chief Executives at Mitie and Serco and post images online using the hashtag #StopProfitingFromOurHeartbreak The campaign aimed to draw attention to the huge profits made by these companies from the government’s cruel and inhumane practice of detention.
The No To Hassockfield campaign works closely with WFRW who support women with lived experience of being locked up in detention prisons in the UK, including some women who have been incarcerated at the Derwentside IRC. These women know first-hand about the psychological harm caused by detention. The Valentine cards featured the message “Detention is cruel and extremely harmful to women seeking safety” and went on to state: “Most women in detention are survivors of rape, trafficking and torture”.
Profiting from inhumane practice
WFRW have reported that over 600 cards were sent by post to Mitie and Serco urging them to end their contracts running immigration detention centres. The campaigners are now waiting for responses from the companies. Local campaigner and former Labour MEP Julie Ward wrote in her card to Phil Bentley, CEO of Mitie:
“I am appalled at the amount of money MITIE is making from the inhumane practice of locking up vulnerable women in detention, many of whom will have suffered physical, sexual and emotional/psychological violence on their journeys to find safety. By taking money from the government (our money, my money) you are taking money away from vital public services (e.g. education, NHS, social care, transport, etc.) and making profit out of misery.
“The UK is out of step with international norms and is breaking international law with its asylum policies and you are complicit. I have visited formal and informal refugee camps around the world. I speak from experience. I stand in solidarity with my sisters at Women For Refugee Women.”
In November 2022 members of N2H took their campaign to the doors of Mitie, turning up with placards at the company’s offices near Manchester Airport to hand over a letter to Chief Executive, Phil Bentley. This action drew the attention of the Manchester Evening News and forced Bentley to take to social media to defend the company’s record.
However, neither No To Hassockfield nor Women For Refugee Women will end their campaigns until the Derwentside IRC has been closed down. N2H maintains its commitment to continue monthly demonstrations at the site and urges all those who care about a compassionate response to those seeking safety to join them.
You can find out more and support the various campaigns here:
Abolish Detention
Facebook – Abolish Detention – Hassockfield
Email – [email protected]
Durham People’s Assembly
Email – [email protected]
Twitter – @PeoplesDurham
No to Hassockfield
Email – [email protected]
Facebook – @No2Hassockfield
