Man stages rooftop protest at Dover immigration centre
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Version 0 of 1. A man climbed to the roof of an immigration detention centre on Friday and threatened to take his own life, in protest against his imminent deportation. The man, who the Guardian understands is called Dainus, resisted attempts to talk him down from the roof of the immigration removal centre in Dover’s Western Heights for several hours. He was set to be deported to Lithuania on Friday and feared he would not receive medication for a pre-existing medical condition which would eventually prove fatal. Other sources inside the detention centre, which was placed on lockdown for the duration of the incident, said Dainus had been denied the medical treatment he needed in recent days, leaving him ill and in pain. A Home Office spokesman confirmed the incident at the centre and later said the man was eventually brought down “safe and well”. But the department made no comment on the claims the man had been denied medication. Dainus spoke to the Guardian by mobile phone from the roof, but he was upset and it was difficult to understand everything he was trying to say. “I’m sick, I’m prisoner in England’s system,” he said. “I’m due for deportation. I need help. I have a ticket to go to Lithuania; no more chance, no appeals, nothing. If I go back I’m dead in a year. I have now one chance.” His conversation was punctuated with sobs and he frequently broke off to shout at immigration officers below, warning them to stay away. He said at one point: “People are coming now so I’m going to jump.” Dainus had been inside the detention centre since the beginning of March, a source told the Guardian. The Dover Express, citing a former cellmate, reported that Dainus had earlier served a three-month sentence for shoplifting. It also said he was 36 years old. Another detainee at Dover immigration removal centre, who gave his name as Ali, told the Guardian by phone that Dainus had not been trying to escape, but wanted to make a point about the way he had been treated, particularly the lack of medical care. “He was suffering from a lack of healthcare,” Ali said. “I know the guy. He’s a very nice guy. I was very surprised that the guy went to that limit. He was terrified. “The healthcare is terrible here. If I had been in RSPCA London as a dog I would be happier there. Truly is that what British should be? I have been in this country for years and I’m ashamed, I’m embarrassed.” Ali said Dainus had eaten breakfast with the other detainees as normal that morning, until a truck, which brings food to the centre every day, had arrived. “As they opened the gate he went through the gate, just to get on top of the roof top. He didn’t try to escape, he was just going out there to make a point. “He put a blade on his neck and he was saying don’t come near me. I’m sure he would have jumped because he was very angry.” Guards quickly surrounded the building which Dainus had scaled and put mattresses down to break his fall in case he jumped. Ali said the cushioning would have made little difference. “It’s quite far down, about five floors. If he had jumped he would have definitely died, 100%,” Ali said. Another source inside the centre, quoted earlier on the Detained Voices blog, said detainees had banged on their doors throughout the lockdown. He made similar complaints about the lack of medical treatment at Dover. “There are no human rights at all. There is no medication. They say you’re not entitled to it. There are people with HIV, Hep B, Hep C and they’re not getting any medication,” the source, who was not named, said. The incident began before 9.30am and the centre remained on lockdown until at least 4pm, a source told the Guardian. The source added that migrants at Dover immigration removal centre had been having consistent difficulties accessing legal advice. Kent police confirmed it had received a call about the incident at midday on Friday, but a spokeswoman said officers had not attended and officials from the immigration service were at the scene. A Home Office spokesman said: “We can confirm an incident involving one individual at Dover immigration removal centre. He subsequently came down voluntarily.” The Samaritans’ 24-hour helpline is 08457 909090. |