• Contact
  • About
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
North East Bylines
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Region
  • Opinion
AUDIO
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Region
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
North East Bylines
Home Region Co. Durham

Protestors demonstrate support for women in detention at Hassockfield

Campaigners continue to protest about the controversial Hassockfield/Derwentside IRC where women asylum seekers are now imprisoned.

Julie WardbyJulie Ward
07-01-2022 09:48 - Updated On 29-03-2022 10:32
in Co. Durham, North East, Politics, Region, UK, UK News
Reading Time: 8 mins
A A
Julie Ward, former MEP speaking at emergency demonstration at Hassockfield Photo by Simone J Rudolphi

Julie Ward, former MEP speaking at emergency demonstration at Hassockfield Photo by Simone J Rudolphi

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Dozens of human rights campaigners mounted an emergency demonstration at the controversial Hassockfield/Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) on Sunday 2 January in order to show support for women sanctuary seekers who are now incarcerated there. After months of obfuscation, delays and secrecy a small number of women were finally transferred to the category 3 prison near Consett from Yarl’s Wood in Bedfordshire, in between Christmas and New Year.

Home Secretary Priti Patel had announced the opening of the detention centre on 23 November 2021, two days before 27 people drowned in the English Channel trying to reach safety. The IRC had originally been scheduled to open in mid-Autumn run by the private company Mitie whose record on employment rights and other issues is extremely poor.

The facility has been renamed Derwentside IRC in a blatant attempt to try and erase the appalling history of abuse that occurred when hundreds of boys were locked up there over several decades. Five former officers have already been jailed for their part in the abuse with many more thought to have been involved in what was probably an organised paedophile ring.

The site was initially earmarked for a housing development with a pocket park. But the government has ridden roughshod over local planning processes. It is thought that approximately 80 vulnerable women will eventually be locked up in the IRC. The campaigners say it is imperative that the women know they are not alone and have pledged to maintain regular vigils and noisy protests at the site until it is closed.

Campaigner Alison Stancliffe said:

“Our work goes on to push for closure of the facility but right now we must continue turning out at Hassockfield so that the women incarcerated there feel reassured they’ve not been abandoned by the outside world. Groups taking similar action at other detention centres know from experience how they’ve helped to maintain morale and reduce detainees’ sense of isolation.

“So on Sunday, hoping our voices would reach them, we chanted ‘Set her Free’ and ‘Refugees are Welcome Here’.  We sang ‘We shall Overcome’, a universal song that would be easily recognised inside the walls. And we held our banners and placards high, tying bright orange heart-shaped messages to the perimeter fencing and trusting they’d be visible from the prison windows.

“In the weeks ahead, we’re confident that word of our support will reach the women and they’ll know the outside world has not forgotten them. But that means being there and not giving up. Every one of us turning out in the winter cold will be offering hope and comfort to someone’s mother, daughter or sister.”

Placards saying 'Set her Free' 
Photo by Simone J Rudolphi
Photo by Simone J Rudolphi

Agnes Tanoh from Women for Refugee Women who has worked tirelessly to get Hassockfield/Derwentside closed down, said:

“This is personal for me. I claimed asylum here because I was being persecuted in my country and I thought I would be killed. But I was locked up at Yarl’s Wood for three months in 2012. I was put there because the solicitor who was working on my case didn’t do it properly. I suffered so much and for no reason.

“Now, the government has agreed that I should stay in this country, and I have refugee status. I dedicate my time to supporting other women. I know how detention destroys a woman. Women become depressed and suicidal in detention. I don’t want to see this happen to any of my sisters who are looking for safety.”

Emma Pearson, one of the protest organisers, said:

“From the outset, this immigration prison has always been advertised as an excellent employment opportunity for locals. This area does need investment and job creation, but these jobs do not need to be founded on the inhumane incarceration of already vulnerable women. At no point did locals get asked what they wanted the site to be used for or what jobs they thought would be beneficial. 

“The fact that this is a prison for women is particularly concerning. Derwentside (Hassockfield) IRC will be facilitating state-funded violence against women who are simply seeking safety, sanctuary and security. The government is not telling the public that the women detained there are locked up for unjust and unnecessary administrative purposes. They also aren’t telling the public that over 50% of those detained are ultimately released back into UK communities. In 2019, this figure was 70%.

“The opening of this new Immigration Prison goes against previous government pledges to reduce the number of IRCs. It is an abuse of taxpayers’ money. It is an outrage for locals seeking good quality, status-secure jobs. And it is a blatantly racist attack on human rights, women’s rights and international law. Women are now imprisoned at the site and it is incredibly important they know we don’t want them locked up, and that we will continue supporting them by raising our voices in the public domain until they are released.”

Protestors at Hassockfield
Photo by Simone J Rudolphi
Photo by Simone J Rudolphi

The UK is out of step with international human rights norms regarding its treatment of asylum seekers. We are the only country in the 47-member state Council of Europe that practises indefinite detention whereby people seeking sanctuary are held for months if not years not knowing when their nightmare will end, if they will eventually be given leave to remain or whether they will taken in the middle of the night to be deported.

The government is also out of step with the Conservative-LibDem elected administration of Durham County Council who passed a resolution in July 2021 stating that the use of the site for an IRC is not acceptable. The IRC is also opposed by local faith communities who demonstrate their strength of feeling via regular prayer vigils. At all levels of society therefore the IRC is viewed as an abhorrent inhumane monstrosity which must be shut down.        

Research by Women for Refugee Women shows that over 85% of the women who had been detained in Yarl’s Wood had experienced rape, domestic violence, forced marriage, forced prostitution or female genital mutilation. Campaigners say that the opening of Derwentside IRC is the epitome of an inhumane Tory government who have lost their moral compass.

Former GP, Dr Helen Groom, of the No To Hassockfield Campaign, added:

“Women asylum seekers are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society and they deserve our attention and compassion.”

Campaigners have committed to continuing regular demonstrations and vigils at the site in support for the women locked up there. The next demonstration will be on Saturday January 15th from 12-2pm and every third Saturday of the following months. You can find out more below.


Details of campaigns:

Durham People’s Assembly

Email – [email protected]

Facebook – @durhampeoplesassembly

Abolish Detention

Facebook – Abolish Detention – Hassockfield

Email – [email protected]

No to Hassockfield

Email – [email protected]

Facebook – @No2Hassockfield

Women for Refugee Women

Email [email protected]

Facebook @4refugeewomen

Previous Post

Whatever happened to the likely lads?

Next Post

The path to safety in North East coal mines, 1800 – 1850: box set

Julie Ward

Julie Ward

Julie Ward was a Labour MEP for NW England from July 2014 to January 31st 2020. She was Vice Chair of the Culture and Education Committee and a member of the Committees for Women's Rights and Gender Equality, Regional Development, and Economic and Monetary Affairs. She co-founded a parliamentary intergroup on Child Rights and was Co-President of the Anti-racism and Diversity Intergroup. She served on the delegation for relations with Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo and was a member of the EU- African, Caribbean & Pacific Joint Parliamentary Assembly. Prior to being elected Julie worked in the arts and cultural sector as founder-director of Durham-based Jack Drum Arts.

Related Posts

National Servicemen Michael Jamieson
History

Last of the National Servicemen Part 3: Sent to Coventry

byMichael Jamieson
December 2, 2023
curriculum for the North
Education

A new Curriculum for the North

byPeter Sagar
December 2, 2023
bluebells
Community

1,750 native bulbs and flowers to bring colour and to enhance wellbeing in Kenton

byNorth East Bylines
December 2, 2023
Palestinians and Israelis book by Michael Scott-Baumann
Books

Book review: Palestinians and Israelis

byGiuseppe Bignardi
December 1, 2023
Newcastle Civic Centre
Housing

City Council to take over Your Homes Newcastle

byStephen Lambert
December 1, 2023
Next Post
A photo of a mine shaft head wheel

The path to safety in North East coal mines, 1800 - 1850: box set

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDER

Subscribe to our newsletters
CHOOSE YOUR NEWS
Follow us on social media
CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORMS
Download our app
ALL OF BYLINES IN ONE PLACE
Subscribe to our gazette
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY
Make a monthly or one-off donation
DONATE NOW
Help us with our hosting costs
SIGN UP TO SITEGROUND
We are always looking for citizen journalists
WRITE FOR US
Volunteer as an editor, in a technical role, or on social media
VOLUNTEER FOR US
Something else?
GET IN TOUCH
Previous slide
Next slide

LATEST

National Servicemen Michael Jamieson

Last of the National Servicemen Part 3: Sent to Coventry

December 2, 2023
curriculum for the North

A new Curriculum for the North

December 2, 2023
David Lammy

Lammy’s mood music – sidestepping towards Rejoin?

December 2, 2023
bluebells

1,750 native bulbs and flowers to bring colour and to enhance wellbeing in Kenton

December 2, 2023
Palestinians and Israelis book by Michael Scott-Baumann

Book review: Palestinians and Israelis

December 1, 2023

December 1, 2023

MOST READ

Nestle Fawdon

New buyer for Fawdon Nestlé chocolate site

November 28, 2023
Photo by Fred Duval/Shutterstock.com (YW)

Cleverly and Stockton

November 27, 2023
Bollard in Geelong

What news from Geelong? The show goes on with Britishvolt

November 24, 2023 - Updated On November 27, 2023
Polling station

Proportional Representation vs First Past the Post

November 6, 2022 - Updated On May 23, 2023

BROWSE BY TAGS

Audio Beach Brexit Business castle leazes climate activism Co. Durham comedy cost of living crisis Culture defra democracy ducklings Economy Education Environment fire and rescue firefighter Food & Drink food poverty hardwick festival Health Health & Care Home Affairs just stop oil Lifestyle Local Lockdown Northumberland Peace peoples theatre Performance Politics pride month refugee rescue Science Teesside the good life TV & Radio Tynemouth Tyneside Ukraine volunteer Wearside

We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North East and beyond.

North East Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a partner organisation to Byline Times.

Learn more about us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Authors
  • Complaints
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Letters
  • Privacy
  • Network Map
  • Network RSS Feeds
  • Submission Guidelines

© 2023 North East Bylines. Powerful Citizen Journalism

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • UK News
    • Transport
    • World News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Poetry
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Technology
    • Trade
  • Donate
  • Newsletter sign up
  • Boriiis Cartoons
  • Authors
  • Audio
CROWDFUNDER

© 2023 North East Bylines. Powerful Citizen Journalism

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In