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Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 16:04:04 +0000
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From: "John O'Reilly" <johno@ncadc.demon.co.uk>
NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-DEPORTATION CAMPAIGNS
22 BERNERS STREET, BIRMINGHAM, B19 2DR, ENGLAND
VOICE 0121-554-6947 FAX 0121-507-1567
E-MAIL johno@ncadc.demon.co.uk
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, meet on the 6 February 1997 to
consider giving planning permission for the mooring of the ship
Resolution, in Portland Harbour. The Home Office intend to use the
Resolution as a detention centre, for asylum Seekers and immigrants. NCADC
along with other organisations are opposing this and are asking people to
fax or write to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council requesting that the
Council refuse to allow the Resolution to be moored in Portland Harbour.
Attached is a letter which can be copied or altered.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Fax 01305-760971 Phone 01305-760971
CLLR Jim Churchouse
Chair of the Planing Committee
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
Municipal Offices
North Quay
Weymouth
Dorset DT4 RTA
21/01/97
Dear Cllr. Churchouse
RE: IMMIGRATION PRISON SHIP
I am very concerned at the proposals put forward by the Home Office to moor
a ship, the Resolution in Portland Harbour for the purpose of detaining
asylum seekers and other immigrants. Anti-deportation campaigners both from
Harwich and from throughout the country conducted regular protests in
Harwich in 1987 against the use of a similar detention ship' the Earl
William. Regular protests and pickets were held against the use of the ship
until disaster occurred when the Earl William lost its moorings during a
storm in 1987. While it was good fortune that the ship eventually came to
rest on a sandbank and that no fatalities or injuries occurred, it is our
view that the use of such a ship continues to pose a potential hazard to
detainees.
Please also note my opposition to the use of the Resolution also relates
to the inaccessibility of Portland Harbour for many of the families of
detainees. Many of these families have few funds to enable them to travel
to visit their detainee relatives. Given the prolonged periods of time that
detainees are held (sometimes for over two years) this creates an
unreasonable burden for detainees who are held without charge or trial and
not in relation to any criminal offence.
The proposed use of the Resolution reminds us of the 19th century practice
of holding prisoners in ships The past use of such ship has generally been
felt to have been a draconian and uncivilised practice which we would have
hoped was at an end in the present times. We believe that the proposed use
of the Resolution is a regression to such intolerable practices and that
this would be reflected by the greater hardship that detainees and their
families already face.
We therefore wish to emphasise our strong opposition to the use of the
Resolution as a detainee ship and request that your Planning Committee
takes into account our concerns and opposition to the proposals for the
ship to be granted mooring rights in Portland Harbour We strongly oppose
the current proposals and hope you will ensure that this protest against
the proposals will be noted by the Planing committee
I would also be happy to discuss my concerns relating to the proposals
should you wish to contact me.
Yours faithfully'