In September 2001, the North West Enforcement Unit at Manchester Airport
relocated to "Dallas Court". All asylum seekers on reporting restrictions
who live within a 25 mile radius of the office in Salford, will be required
to report to "Dallas Court" and not local police stations.
The security for the Enforcement office is in the hands of Wackenhut
UK Limited and includes body search and metal detector scans. Each and
every humiliation of those seeking asylum, brings shame on the UK. People
are expected to walk from all over Greater Manchester to sign 'on the
hour' at the centre on South Langworthy Road. No fares are paid. In the
shadow of the "events of 11th September" racist attacks on asylum seekers
in Britain has increased, yet no asylum seeker was involved. People who
have fled, some from terror in their own lands, now face even harsher
treatment as racists target anyone they think fit.
Each asylum seeker forced to sign on at the "enforcement centre" brings
profit to Wackenhut.
Wackenhut is a 'prisons for profit' multi national company. Money making
opportunities in Britain are flush with a rash of prisons and detention
centres opened under Labour's privatisation schemes. Ex FBI agent and
multimillionaire George Wackenhut founded the company on money made building
files on left wing activists and anti war protesters in America in the
1960's.
Wackenhut Corrections are considered one of the "dirtiest"companies in
the world.
Reports show they..
· allowed physical and sexual abuse in their prisons in New Mexico
· organised security for chemical weapons shipments to Iraq
· stole documents related to the Exon Valdiz oil disaster.
This is not the sort of regeneration promised to the Langworthy area.
Remember the closure of Agecroft colliery? In its place they built a
prison. Britain now detains more people in prison than any other European
country.
This "reception centre" is not the sort of local facility people need
in Salford. Money handed over by the government to private-prison multinationals
should be diverted to help local people in need and to aid those without
food and shelter, wherever they come from.
Asylum seekers get £26-54 in vouchers and £10 cash a week. That is 70%
of income support levels. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work for the
first six months. They are dispersed as soon as they settle or make friends.
Over 100 are locked up in Walton prison without charge.
It's time this government stopped making scapegoats out of some of the
poorest people in Britain.
Stop Racism! Defend Asylum Seekers!
Protest called by:
Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers
Supported by Salford Socialist Alliance and Salford Stop the War Coalition.
Further information:
Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers
c/o Immigration Aid Unit
400 Cheetham Hill Road
Manchester M8 9LE
Contact manchester@defend-asylum.org
Fax letters of protest to Wackenhut UK Ltd on
0161 888 4139 from outside the UK: + 44 161 888 4139
or email the Managing Director Anthony Sharpe:
anthony.sharpe@wackenhutcorp.com
=================================
Anthony Sharpe, Managing Director
Wackenhut UK Ltd
Units 1-2, Dallas Court
South Langworthy Road
Salford Quays
Salford M5 2GF
Dear Mr. Sharpe,
Asylum seekers on reporting restrictions are required to report at "Dallas
Court" under repressive conditions. Many of them are fleeing persecution,
and yet you criminalise them by restricting entry with locked doors, body
searches and metal detector scans.
Each and every humiliation of those seeking asylum brings shame on Wackenhut.
This "reception centre" is not the sort of local facility people need
in Salford. Money handed over by the government to private-prison multinationals
should be diverted to help local people in need and to aid those without
food and shelter, wherever they come from.
Yours faithfully,
================================
Please send copies of any thing sent to:
Manchester Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers
Fax: 0161-740-7113 from outside the UK: + 44 161 740 7 113
ncadc-nw@ncadc.org
