Fury as ‘inhumane’ 160-bed immigration centre sparks protest

Protesters have rallied against an ‘inhumane’ immigration centre after it was confirmed a public inquiry would be held into plans to more than double its size. The Home Office’s expansion plan for the detention facility near Oxford, to hold up to 400 men, is currently being assessed by the Government Planning Inspectorate.

Campsfield Immigration Centre reopened in 2025 with 160 beds following a period of closure which came after a review of detainees’ welfare and years of protest, including hunger strikes. But protestors want local people to decide the centre’s future – and a group of around 20 people braved the conditions to protest outside on Saturday.

Liz Peretz of the campaign said: “It’s heartening to see people of all ages and all walks of life saying locking up people is never the answer.

“We are especially concerned about the Immigration Removal Centre Expansion programme, here and in Gosport, which we think fails the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s test.”

Ms Peretz added that in Makerfield the prime minister had promised to let local people decide, and in the case of Campsfield, local politicians, councils and trade unions had all come out against the proposal to expand it.

She said: “This practice of incarceration of migrants, who are seeking asylum, whose visas have run out, or who have finished a criminal sentence already, is inhuman.

“There are plenty of alternatives – we need to get on and use them.”

In around 250 objections to the expansion from neighbouring residents, workers, councils, MPs, human rights advocates and campaign groups, there were repeated calls for the plan to come to an inquiry to ensure “proper scrutiny”.

Plans to expand Campsfield are going through the Crown Development route, which effectively bypasses the local planning authority due to their “national importance”.

But, in a letter sent to those who made written representations on the plans, the Crown Development case team at the Government’s planning inspectorate confirmed a public inquiry will be held.

The letter said: “The application has generated considerable local interest; some of the issues raised are complex and the evidence would benefit from formal cross-examination.”

The letter added: “The date, time and venue fixed for the holding of the inquiry will be published on the application website in due course. ”

An inquiry is a court-like legal process used to evaluate major controversial development plans.

It is the most formal of procedures which could be used to authorise or refuse plans.

Government guidance states it will be “open to the public and provides for the investigation into, and formal testing of, evidence, usually through cross-examination of expert witnesses and other witnesses” and that “parties may be formally represented by advocates”.