Oxford City Council members have voted to oppose the controversial re-opening of Campsfield House as an immigration removal centre.
Campsfield House was closed in 2018 after years of problems, including riots, escapes and complaints about conditions.
However, the Home Office has backed a commitment from the previous Government to re-open the site, promising a ‘better controlled and managed’ system.
Yesterday, 38 of 40 city councillors present voted to oppose the Government’s plans, with two councillors abstaining.
Speaking on the motion, Green Party councillor Alex Powell said: ‘The reopening of Campsfield House is a hangover of the kind of cruelty we all hoped we had said goodbye to after 14 years of Conservative rule. We must all keep fighting to avoid a re-opening of this cruel institution.’
Oxford Community Independent councillor Dr Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini, Oxford’s first Migrant Champion, commented: ‘Immigration detention and its circle of violence is inhumane, wasteful and makes a mockery of Oxford as a City of Sanctuary.’
