Yarlswood Detention Centre

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre is a detention centre for foreign nationals prior to their deportation from the United Kingdom, one of 13 such centres currently in the UK. It is located near Milton Ernest in Bedfordshire, England, and is operated by Serco, who describe the place as "a fully contained residential centre housing adult women and adult family groups awaiting immigration clearance. " Its population is, and has been, overwhelmingly female. Management historyYarl's Wood opened on 19 November 2001 with capacity for just over 400 people, making it the largest immigration detention centre in Europe at the time. Initially managed by Group 4 Falck, control passed in May 2004 to Global Solutions Limited (GSL), which was sold off at this time by Group 4 to private equity firms Englefield Capital and Electra Partners Europe. In 2007, with Yarl's Wood "never having been far from controversy" (a fire in February 2002, for example, gutted the centre, which did not reopen until September the following year), GSL's contract was not renewed, and control was signed over to Serco, who have run Yarl's Wood to the present time. Chris Hyman, then Serco chief executive, said winning the £85m contract "recognises our ability to care for a wide range of detainees". Serious incidents have continued, however, during the Serco period. ControversiesFebruary 2002 fireIn early February 2002, the building was burnt down following a protest by the detainees. This was triggered by someone being physically restrained by staff. According to custody officer Darren Attwood, officers complied with orders to "lock the detainees in the burning building". Five people were injured in the fire.

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre is a detention centre for foreign nationals prior to their deportation from the United Kingdom, one of 13 such centres currently in the UK. It is located near Milton Ernest in Bedfordshire, England, and is operated by Serco, who describe the place as "a fully contained residential centre housing adult women and adult family groups awaiting immigration clearance. " Its population is, and has been, overwhelmingly female. Management historyYarl's Wood opened on 19 November 2001 with capacity for just over 400 people, making it the largest immigration detention centre in Europe at the time. Initially managed by Group 4 Falck, control passed in May 2004 to Global Solutions Limited (GSL), which was sold off at this time by Group 4 to private equity firms Englefield Capital and Electra Partners Europe. In 2007, with Yarl's Wood "never having been far from controversy" (a fire in February 2002, for example, gutted the centre, which did not reopen until September the following year), GSL's contract was not renewed, and control was signed over to Serco, who have run Yarl's Wood to the present time. Chris Hyman, then Serco chief executive, said winning the £85m contract "recognises our ability to care for a wide range of detainees". Serious incidents have continued, however, during the Serco period. ControversiesFebruary 2002 fireIn early February 2002, the building was burnt down following a protest by the detainees. This was triggered by someone being physically restrained by staff. According to custody officer Darren Attwood, officers complied with orders to "lock the detainees in the burning building". Five people were injured in the fire.