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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Extra immigrant detention places | Extra immigrant detention places |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Places in immigration detention centres are to increase by 60% under plans from the government's UK Border Agency. | Places in immigration detention centres are to increase by 60% under plans from the government's UK Border Agency. |
| Between 1,300 and 1,500 extra places will be created, border and immigration minister Liam Byrne said. | Between 1,300 and 1,500 extra places will be created, border and immigration minister Liam Byrne said. |
| The Home Office will put in planning applications for new centres at two sites - Bicester in Oxfordshire and Yarl's Wood, Bedfordshire. | The Home Office will put in planning applications for new centres at two sites - Bicester in Oxfordshire and Yarl's Wood, Bedfordshire. |
| The Tories said it was the government's "long-term failure" on asylum policy that caused the need for extra spaces. | |
| The government hopes the move will help the agency increase the number and pace of illegal immigrant removals. | |
| These proposals for a new centre are in addition to one at Brook House, near Gatwick Airport, new wings at Harmondsworth near Heathrow, and spaces in centres at Dover and Oakington. | These proposals for a new centre are in addition to one at Brook House, near Gatwick Airport, new wings at Harmondsworth near Heathrow, and spaces in centres at Dover and Oakington. |
| 'Local concerns' | 'Local concerns' |
| Mr Byrne said: "We remove an immigration offender every eight minutes - but my target is to remove more, and remove them faster. | Mr Byrne said: "We remove an immigration offender every eight minutes - but my target is to remove more, and remove them faster. |
| "We need more detention space. Although stronger border security demands these controls, I know local communities will have concerns. My commitment is to listen to these personally." | "We need more detention space. Although stronger border security demands these controls, I know local communities will have concerns. My commitment is to listen to these personally." |
| Shadow immigration minister Damian Green blamed government policy for necessitating more spaces. | |
| "If there were fewer delays in the system, there would be less need for new detention capacity," he said. | |
| "These measures will help neither the taxpayer nor genuine refugees." | |
| The UKBA says it removed 4,200 foreign national prisoners from the UK last year and deported a total of 63,140 illegal migrants. | The UKBA says it removed 4,200 foreign national prisoners from the UK last year and deported a total of 63,140 illegal migrants. |