Nun criticises asylum centre

Nun criticises asylum centre

Sister Margaret believes the centre's regime is harsher than a prison

A nun from Dover has criticised the conditions in which failed asylum seekers are held before being deported.

Sister Margaret Canny, of St Ursula's Convent, is a regular visitor to the Dover Immigration and Removal Centre, a former young offenders institution.

She believes the Home Office has betrayed its commitment to treat detainees with respect and decency.

The nun said those held were treated like criminals even though their only 'crime' had been to try to claim asylum.

'Prison regime'

She said: "Here in the detainee centre is very much a very structured prison regime - and I'm comparing that with a man's prison in Ecuador.

"They had more liberty with their families and they weren't locked in as much."

BBC South East reporters have not been allowed to film inside the removals centre but have spoken to several visitors.

They told reporters they were not allowed to give small items like phone cards to detainees and that many of those held were searched after every visit.

The Home Office said detainees were treated with respect and dignity

Protesters from the Dover community have backed Sister Margaret's view that removal centres are wrong.

A Home Office spokesman said Dover Removal Centre was operated according to the detention centre rules 2001.

"Those rules provide for the secure but humane treatment for detainees in as a relaxed regime as is consistent with security," a statement said.

"Although the centre is operated under prison rules it is not a prison.

"Its regime is very different to that which you would find in a prison.

"Every effort is made to take into account the needs of detainees.

"There are a wide range of activities provided, staff have had multi-faith training and all detainees are treated with respect and dignity during their time in detention."