Jailing asylum seekers 'must end'

Riot police were called to deal with the Harmondsworth disturbance

The United Nations' agency for refugees has protested over the detention of asylum seekers in the UK's prisons.

More than 100 asylum seekers have been held in jails since Harmondsworth Detention Centre, near Heathrow, was closed after rioting last month.

The UN's top refugee official in London has told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the practice should stop.

Former Home Office minister John Denham told the programme it was regrettable but the government had little choice.

In fairness, it is a little bit difficult to see what else the Government could have done John Denham Ex-Home Office minister

About 130 asylum seekers have been held in prisons, including Cardiff and Norwich, since Harmondsworth's closure following rioting after a man died there.

Three years ago, Home Secretary David Blunkett pledged the practice of holding asylum seekers in jail would end, calling it "a scandal that should not have happened".

Larry Hollingworth, London spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, told the Today programme on Saturday: "We do not agree with people who have not been convicted of any crime being detained in prison, especially when these people came to this country to seek asylum, whether they were right in doing that, or whether they were wrong.

"We just feel that prison is indeed the very last resort, and if you have to resort to it - and we object to the government resorting to it - then it should be for the absolute minimum possible period of time.

"We feel that there are a number of other alternatives which are better than putting someone in a prison."

A Home Office spokeswoman said it was a response to exceptional circumstances, and the detainees would be moved from jail at the earliest opportunity.

John Denham now chairs the home affairs select committee

Mr Denham, who now chairs the Commons home affairs select committee, agreed that it was highly undesirable to keep asylum seekers in prisons.

"In fairness, it is a little bit difficult to see what else the government could have done," he added.

"They clearly can't have a mothballed detention centre just waiting there for something like a riot so they can move people in.

"It is very difficult to get the appropriate legal and translation services to the asylum seekers.

"Every effort needs to be made now to get the remaining asylum seekers into suitable places as quickly as possible."