Asylum seekers 'to leave jail soon'

The transfer of asylum seekers to Cardiff Prison led to protests

The Home Office says three asylum seekers being held at Cardiff Prison will be moved as soon as possible.

Six other asylum seekers have been transferred from the jail, after being held there following the closure of a detention centre near London in July.

The detention of the nine led to protests outside the prison, although the Home Office said it was a temporary measure.

The remaining three are in the jail's remand wing.

Campaigners claimed that people seeking asylum should not be housed with convicted prisoners.

Last month, Assembly Social Justice Minister Edwina Hart wrote to the Government to express her concern about asylum seekers being held in the jail.

Mrs Hart visited the men and later said she was "very concerned" about the issue.

She said at the time: "No-one should be treated in a worse way simply because they are an asylum seeker".

Harmondsworth Immigration and Removal Centre, near Heathrow Airport, was temporarily closed in July, and should reopen next month.

The Home Office said the 481 Harmondsworth detainees had been dispersed to prisons and other detention centres across the country - with some being held in police custody.

'Remand prisoners'

A spokeswoman said it was not possible to give a date for the remaining three asylum seekers at Cardiff to be moved.

She said: "They are being held there as part of the contingency plan following the fire at Harmondsworth. They will be moved as soon as they can be."

She said the men had the status of remand prisoners and were segregated from convicted prisoners.