Campsfield claims 'unsurprising'

Three men, described as low risk by police, remain on the run

A report alleging assaults on detainees at an Oxfordshire immigration centre is "not surprising", a campaigner says.

A dossier handed to the Home Office claims six detainees at Campsfield House have been mistreated.

The UK Border Agency said the cases would be reviewed. GEO, which run the site, declined to comment.

Teresa Hayter, of the Campaign to Close Campsfield, said it could point to a reason behind recent troubles, including a break out last month.

Three illegal immigrants are still on the run following the escape on 19 June, the Home Office said.

'Very alarming'

They are Abdesalam Tarik Ben, Abdelhak Morid and Mohammed Aref Hosseini.

Two of the men are Palestinian and one is an Afghan. All are said to be low risk.

The report on alleged assaults, Outsourcing Abuse, was written by Birnberg Peirce & Partners, Medical Justice and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns.

It reports on alleged assaults in immigration detention centres nationwide.

"This dossier provides evidence of widespread and seemingly systematic abuse of one of the most vulnerable communities of people in our society," the report says.

Fires were started by detainees in a protest last month

Ms Hayter said: "This is not surprising. I would say most assaults don't get reported.

"Anyone can tell there is a problem there looking at the recent problems."

Last month, prison officers in riot gear were called to Campsfield to restore order after a number of fires were started.

And eight men are still on the run after escaping last August. Detainees rioted last December.

Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: "This report is very alarming.

"I am aware of a significant number of complaints made by detainees and have brought them to the attention of the Chief Inspector of Prisons."

A UK Border Agency (UKBA) spokesman said: "We have been asking for this information for at least nine months. We are glad that something has finally arrived.

"We will review it and where necessary will refer it to the police."

Campsfield was converted to a detention centre, holding 215 male asylum seekers, in 1993 and is run by GEO, which specialises in court escorts, custody and border and immigration services.