Human rights lawyers lodge legal action over abuse claims

Public Interest Lawyers has lodged a legal action on behalf of seven women detained in Yarl's Wood and HMP Holloway - claiming they have been subjected to "indeterminate and inhumane detention."

PIL solicitor Jim Duffy stated that his clients in Yarl's Wood had suffered sustained abuse and mistreatment and that confidential legal correspondence had been interfered with by staff at both facilities.

Campaigners have repeatedly warned of detainees being abused at Yarl's Wood, most recently during an incident on February 8 after a protest by women in the centre.

In a letter to MPs on February 25, Home Office Minister Meg Hillier dismissed these claims as "unfounded."

Last week, former Northern Ireland police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan published her investigation into abuse at the centre. While saying that abuse was not "systematic," Ms O'Loan reported that several incidents had not been properly investigated and that detainees had been injured as a result of being handcuffed and shackled.

PIL said that two of its clients had had legally privileged correspondence from their solicitors opened and read by staff.

The law firm also said that the Borders Agency had confirmed that its own investigation into events at Yarl's Wood had only just begun.

"As if the endless detention and abuse of these people were not enough, they are now being prevented from communicating freely and privately with their lawyers and campaign groups," said Mr Duffy.

"It is now also clear that Meg Hiller's scathing letter to MPs was not the result of an investigation but a product of the same culture of disbelief and contempt that permeates the whole system of immigration detention."

A Home Office spokesman said that all detainees were monitored by health-care staff and independent monitors throughout the protest.

"The demonstration remained passive at all times and there was no use of force. The detainees were integrated back into the centre at the earliest opportunity," he added.

He said that mail would only opened if it was suspected it could cause damage to the facility - and that the individual would be given the opportunity to be present.