Two immigration detention centres are set to offer recreation and welfare facilities, including art classes, for foreign criminals — at a cost of more than £100 million to the taxpayer. The Telegraph has more.
The Government has earmarked an extra £112 million for contractors to continue operating the removal centres at Heathrow in West London and Yarl’s Wood in Bedfordshire.
Ministers are extending the existing contracts before new operators take over the two sites under £1.3 billion worth of contracts that will provide the Home Office with detention facilities to remove migrants over the next decade into the 2030s.
Heathrow is Britain’s biggest removal centre, housing around 900 detainees who will be entitled to art lessons, maths tutors, in-house NHS treatment and round-the-clock welfare support.
Additionally, those held at the centre’s two sites will be offered leisure activities, such as films and table tennis. They will also be able to sign up for £1-an-hour paid jobs including clearing tables, cooking or running an on-site gym.
Heathrow, operated by Mitie Care and Custody, is having its contract extended by 19 months at an updated cost of £88.4 million to cover the period until its new £1 billion deal starts in 2028.
This will pay for security and guarding, “welfare and general care” and cleaning. It also includes “local escorting and bed watches” and “educational and recreational”, security and furniture.
The annual cost of the centre could double from its current £52.5 million, agreed in 2017, to more than £100 million, according to the contract details.
Yarl’s Wood, operated by Serco, will have its contract extended 11 months at a cost of £24.2 million before its new £265 million deal comes into operation. This is for overall management of the site, security, welfare, bed watches and furniture and equipment.
The Telegraph revealed earlier this year how more than 72,000 vapes worth £200,000 have been shipped into Yarl’s Wood since January 2024 for migrants facing deportation from the UK.
Worth reading in full.
Discussion
Comments
This week across the site:
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to the Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Perhaps the Government could ask the population to donate some free books for a library and the deportees could be give a few books to read whilst they await shipping out of our country.
And maybe a TV or two?
That would be a great deal cheaper.
But since when has the Government EVER cared about the £billions of taxpayers money they are squandering on these criminals who should NEVER have been here in the first place.
No wonder they want to abolish the state pension – they’ve got to find the money for those art classes from somewhere.
Fuc*ing amazing. Is this the human rights we hear about?
I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re getting “cookery” classes using the Anarchist Cookbook.
They are doing all they can to provoke a violent reaction.
It won’t be much longer.
That is the only logical conclusion and would be a reason to impose martial law.
I don’t know about anyone else but I can no longer be riled by these sorts of stories. I cannot raise even one eyebrow, nor issue so much as a ‘tut’. Am I suffering from
Outrage Fatigue.? If so can I claim a Motorbility car and a Disability Benefit please.?
How about putting them in a chain-gang, fixing potholes and clearing ditches etc like in Coolhand Luke. I couldn’t give a hoot if they can paint, unless it’s painting over graffiti or something very large like the Forth bridge. Make them work or send them home.
Edit: make them work, then send them home anyway.
This report seems to be gloating over the abuse of the British taxpayer. Sinister.
No, I don’t think they are gloating. The Telegraph is to be commended for using its investigative journalists to expose the appalling abuse of the British People by Globalist Communist Traitors infesting our government and society.
Well done to The Telegraph, and to the Daily Sceptic for doing their best to enlighten those of us without access to the Telegraph’s paywall.
Beware the false prophet mainstream media. Take a look at who owns it – all of it.
Does DT say this only started in mid-2024.
£200,000 / 72,000 = £2.77 per ‘vape’. Having checked Tesco’s website that’s suspiciously inexpensive.
Yarl’s Wood is smaller/fewer than Heathrow’s 900 detainees, let’s guess 800 instead. Are all of these facing deportation? I’d guess they don’t distinguish between those facing deportation and any still awaiting asylum decisions when distributing the vapes? 72,000 vapes over about 2 years for about 800 detainees = 45 vapes per detainee per year – less than 1 per week.
Given the price of £2.77 they seem to be talking about individual vape pods rather than vape devices. So one per week is not hugely generous. That said, why are they giving them any at all?
Ah well, Starmer’s lawyer friends will launch class actions for cancer claims in a few years, blaming HMG for getting them on the habit.
Isn’t that wonderful? I am so pleased that my working 5 days a week sometimes more than 12 hours a day, taking nothing from the state but paying ever increasing taxes, leaving me with less. But who but the most evil right winger could object to the fruits of their labour being given to young men who have invaded the country illegaly, many with criminal convictions in their places of origin, but who come here full of the generosity of their culture, which they inflict on women and children and film themselves in the act, whilst having our betters and politicians welcoming this wonderful diversity. Isn’t it wonderful that we give them all the pleasures and benefits we have denied to ourselves through our glorious leaders, free 4 star accomodation, 3 delightful meals per day, served by waiters, front of the queue healthcare, art lessons, driving lessons and more,all whilst not having to work, and if the odd convicted Murderer decides to do a spot of gang raping on females in Brighton, then that’s ok too. I mean in the end they will lend their vote to the wonderful Labour Politicians who made this all possible.
Hasn’t Tony Blair and… Read more »
I’m quite surprised they’ve not been allowed day trips to Center Parcs yet in the UK. I can well imagine them enjoying all the activities on offer, especially hanging out in the pool. How strange…But seriously, before all the fun stuff like art and yoga, where is the confirmation that they’re receiving English lessons and having structured, intensive learning about British law, culture and customs. Surely this sort of thing should take priority before they do anything else, and I’m sure there’d be no shortage of Lefty ”Refugees welcome” volunteers to offer their services and assist these migrants in meeting their competencies. That way there can be no excuses or misunderstandings on their part when they claim they didn’t know loitering in playgrounds filming people’s kids, stalking teenage girls or raping women was unacceptable/illegal in the UK.
Meanwhile, it’s just somebody’s say-so but this wouldn’t surprise me in the least. We know there’s female migrants in Calais and they’re apparently given caravans to stay in as opposed to tents, for obvious reasons. They’re sitting ducks when surrounded by all these males, even if they do happen to be accompanied by a man, they’re seriously vulnerable. More so during an actual… Read more »
Why has this post been down-voted? 🤔
Because, as they say: “Your haters are your most loyal fans.” 👀😁
I suppose they are being taught that Jew baiting is an ancient British passtime. Why else do so many illegal immigrants do it. Ditto child abduction, grooming and rape.
Perhaps they teach the immigrants to ignore laws they don’t like and how to complete benefits claims most effectively.