Conditions of Detention: Campsfield House. Amnesty International has received complaints about the treatment of people detained in Campsfield House, a refugee detention facility which is run by a private company. Such reports include allegations that detainees have been subjected to physical and psychological ill-treatment, including racist insults and threats. Reports also alleged that reprisals have been taken against people who raise grievances or complain about their treatment at Campsfield House. One method of reprisal reported is transfer from Campsfield House to prison. On 20 August 1997 staff removed a detainee from Campsfield House, reportedly after he had made complaints about conditions of detention. Other detainees witnessed him being restrained in a neck-hold by staff at Campsfield House. A disturbance subsequently broke out, as detainees mistakenly believed that the person who had been transferred had been strangled to death. The premises suffered substantial amount of damage in the course of the disturbance, much of which was captured on video. In the aftermath of the disturbance, charges were brought against 13 detainees, including two minors. All the accused, including the minors, were reportedly transferred to prisons pending the trial. During the period of remand, the mental health of some of those accused seriously deteriorated. In the course of the trial, video evidence revealed that staff members were responsible for some of the destruction for which they had blamed the accused. Video evidence also further contradicted the oral testimony of staff members. After several days the trial collapsed and the accused were acquitted. Amnesty International thereafter called on the authorities to initiate a wide-ranging inquiry into all of the circumstances which led to the disturbances at Campsfield House on 20 August 1997; and into the decision to prosecute and the subsequent withdrawal of the charges in connection with the disturbances. Amnesty International urged that the report of such an inquiry be made public. In addition, the organization asked to be informed of any measures taken to bring to justice, in either disciplinary or criminal proceedings, any members of staff at Campsfield, including those whose evidence was shown to be false or deliberately misleading, those whose actions constituted ill-treatment or the excessive use of force, and those who participated in any illegal activity, including destruction of property. The authorities informed Amnesty International that no d...
