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Asylum Profiteers
The asylum system is one of the most contentious areas of UK politics, as evidenced by the numerous pieces of legislation on asylum and immigration passed in recent years. It is also one of the most privatised 'public services'. For instance, most asylum accommodation in the country is provided and managed by nine private companies contracted by the Home Office, and eight of the UK's 11 immigration detention centres are run by a handful of global corporations.
There is mounting evidence that systematic negligence and poor services are offered by these contractors. However, this is routinely overlooked by the immigration authorities and the media alike. One of society's most vulnerable and most marginalised groups, and the problems they encounter daily, are easily ignored or discounted. Without a access to resources, they are often unable to voice their grievances and concerns. The result is that a few big companies are able to make vast profits, while compounding the misery of an already vulnerable group of people. This Corporate Watch research project investigates the private companies involved in four main aspects of the UK asylum system: housing, detention, deportation and the legal process. It aims to expose the systematic failures and abuses that occur, and the policies and practices that enable them to continue.
Related publications
Immigration Prisons: Brutal, Unlawful and Profitable - Yarl's Wood: A Case Study (March 2011)
A 20-page briefing looking at various aspects of the UK immigration prisons system, using Yarl's Wood as a case study.
You can download a pdf version of the briefing by clicking on this link (free), or you can buy a hard copy from the Corporate Watch online shop (£2).
Related news articles
Detention
Barnardo's recruiting new PR officer to counter bad publicity
16 August, 2012 Many reasons to stop G4S
May 21, 2012 Serco accused of negligence and assault in Australia
26 September, 2011 Serco dismisses self-harm in immigration prisons as 'bargaining tool'
12 August, 2011 Barnardo’s: We believe in (locking up) children
15 July, 2011 Compulsory O2 mobiles for Yarl's Wood detainees
26 September, 2011 New detention phone system to keep detainees under control
6 April, 2011 New business opportunities: Deportation hostels
10 February, 2011 Missed Appointments: The Nigerian prince and the UK failed immigration system
5 May, 2010 Protests against Serco in solidarity with Yarl's Wood hunger strikers
25 February, 2010 Conditions at G4S Immigration Prison 'Worse and Worse'
2 December 2009 Arora, the latest detention profiteer
16 October 2009 New immigration prison to open at Gatwick this spring
29 January 2009 Expanded detention facility reopened at Manchester airport
18 December 2008 Migrants exploited for cheap labour... even in prison
23 September 2008 Deportation Many reasons to stop G4S
May 21, 2012 Engagement with the deportation machine?
Magazine #49, Summer 2011 Air Europa reluctant to talk about the 'delicate subject' of forcible deportation
24 March, 2011 New business opportunities: Deportation hostels
10 February, 2011 Deportees get new escorts: Reliance
10 November 2010 G4S guards accused of killing deportee
21 October 2010 Grounding deportation airlines
25 June 2010 Lobbing a spanner into the deportation machine
9 June 2010 Coach parties and deportation: An open letter to WH Tours
9 April, 2010 Air Italy pulls out of deportation contract after pressure from campaigners
2 November 2009 Flying people to torture and death
27 February 2009 Franco-British charter flights to deport Afghan refugees
30 October 2008 Asylum housing Monitoring G4S and the new asylum housing landlords
20 August, 2012 G4S dumps UPM, chooses new partners to house asylum seekers
4 July 2012 Many reasons to stop G4S
May 21, 2012 New campaign against G4S asylum accommodation Yorkshire
17 February 2012 Asylum seekers to be housed by prison guards
22 December, 2011 No Angel at Celebrating Sanctuary this year
June 18, 2009 Other IDentity politics: new biometric cards for foreign nationals
13 October 2008