This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/13/police-investigate-mans-oscar-okwurime-death-at-heathrow-detention-centre

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police investigate man's death at UK detention centre Police investigate man's death at UK detention centre
(about 2 hours later)
An investigation has been launched after a man died at a detention centre next to Heathrow airport.An investigation has been launched after a man died at a detention centre next to Heathrow airport.
The cause of death on Thursday of Oscar Okwurime from Nigeria is not yet known. The Home Office said the police, the coroner and the prisons and probation ombudsman are investigating. Oscar Okwurime, from Nigeria, died at Harmondsworth on Thursday. The cause of death is not yet known. The Home Office said the police, the coroner and the prisons and probation ombudsman were investigating.
Okwurime was being held in Harmondsworth, which, together with its neighbour Colnbrook, is the biggest detention centre in Europe. Harmondsworth, together with its neighbour Colnbrook, is the biggest detention centre in Europe.
Friends on Okwurime’s wing said he had received a ticket for a charter flight to Nigeria which is due to take off on Tuesday. “He was terrified when he received the ticket and was so stressed about it,” said one detainee. Friends on Okwurime’s wing said he had received a ticket for a charter flight to Nigeria due to take off next Tuesday. “He was terrified when he received the ticket and was so stressed about it,” said one detainee.
Other detainees said tensions were running high in the centre and there was enormous distress about Okwurime’s death, combined with apprehension about the impending charter flight. Detainees said they are particularly fearful about being restrained on the charter flight. Others said tensions were running high at the centre and there was enormous distress about Okwurime’s death and apprehension about the impending charter flight. Detainees said they were particularly fearful about the possibility of being restrained on the flight. The Guardian has revealed that hundreds of people have been forcibly removed from the UK in restraints in 2018-19.
The Guardian has revealed that hundreds of people have been forcibly removed from the UK in restraints in 2018-19. Detainees staged a protest about the death at 10am on Friday and passed photos of the demonstration to the Guardian. On a bedsheet used as a banner, detainees wrote “RIP Oscar Okwurime”.
Detainees staged a protest about the death at 10am this morning and passed photos of the demonstration to the Guardian. On a bed sheet used as a banner, detainees wrote: “RIP Oscar Okwurime”.
“Oscar was a really nice guy,” said one detainee. Another, who also has a ticket for Tuesday’s charter flight, said: “Everyone is scared about being restrained by the guards.”“Oscar was a really nice guy,” said one detainee. Another, who also has a ticket for Tuesday’s charter flight, said: “Everyone is scared about being restrained by the guards.”
A third detainee, 24, who also has a ticket for Tuesday’s flight, said the Home Office had attempted to remove him on an earlier flight on 6 September. “Since that happened to me I’ve been having nightmares and panic attacks, particularly when I hear keys jangling,” he said. A third detainee, 24, who also has a ticket for Tuesday’s flight, said the Home Office had attempted to remove him on a flight last Friday. “Since that happened to me I’ve been having nightmares and panic attacks, particularly when I hear keys jangling,” he said.
Emma Ginn, the coordinator of Medical Justice, a charity that campaigns for the health rights of detainees, said: “This death is a tragedy and is acutely felt by detainees left behind, locked in immigration removal centres. After a death in detention, some of our clients call us, frightened, in severe distress and inconsolable.Emma Ginn, the coordinator of Medical Justice, a charity that campaigns for the health rights of detainees, said: “This death is a tragedy and is acutely felt by detainees left behind, locked in immigration removal centres. After a death in detention, some of our clients call us, frightened, in severe distress and inconsolable.
“The ever-rising death toll and suffering is the human consequence of the UK’s dehumanising and unjust detention system. We agree with the British Medical Association’s call to phase out immigration detention otherwise the deaths and harm will continue.”“The ever-rising death toll and suffering is the human consequence of the UK’s dehumanising and unjust detention system. We agree with the British Medical Association’s call to phase out immigration detention otherwise the deaths and harm will continue.”
Home Office refused thousands of LGBT asylum claims, figures revealHome Office refused thousands of LGBT asylum claims, figures reveal
Karen Doyle of Movement for Justice said: “These deaths in detention will always happen for as long as the Home Office locks up so many people who are distressed and afraid.” Karen Doyle, of Movement for Justice, said: “These deaths in detention will always happen for as long as the Home Office locks up so many people who are distressed and afraid.”
James Wilson, acting director of Detention Action, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of yet another death in immigration detention. As we await more details on the cause of death, and the results of the official investigations, we must reflect on the conditions in which this man died. The indefinite nature of immigration detention has an enormous impact on the mental and physical health of those detained. As do the prison-like conditions and the limited access to proper medical care and treatment.” James Wilson, the acting director of Detention Action, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of yet another death in immigration detention. As we await more details on the cause of death and the results of the official investigations, we must reflect on the conditions in which this man died. The indefinite nature of immigration detention has an enormous impact on the mental and physical health of those detained, as do the prison-like conditions and the limited access to proper medical care and treatment.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Any death in detention is a tragic event and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Mr Okwurime. The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance. All deaths in immigration detention are subject to investigation by the police, the coroner and the independent prisons and probation ombudsman.”A Home Office spokesperson said: “Any death in detention is a tragic event and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Mr Okwurime. The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance. All deaths in immigration detention are subject to investigation by the police, the coroner and the independent prisons and probation ombudsman.”
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
Police
Migration
Prisons and probation
UK criminal justice
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content