Campsfield Immigration Centre to reopen through Home Office

Building Southern has announced its agreement with the Home Office for proposed works at the Campsfield Centre in Kidlington, despite the long-term objections of local councillors and community members. 

Both Oxford City Council and the Oxfordshire County Council have publicly opposed the plans since it was proposed in 2022. 

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There have also been significant community protests including from the Keep Campsfield Closed group 

Campaigner Liz Peretz previously told the Oxford Mail in 2022 she was in "floods of tears" on hearing of Home Office plans to reopen Campsfield by 2023. 

The Kidlington immigration detention centre closed its doors in 2018, as part of a government push to reduce the number of people held in immigration detention and community anger. 

A spokesman for Oxford City Council highlighted its previous statement made in June 2022 by  Susan Brown, leader of the city council, and councillor Shaista Aziz, who has since stepped down. 

The statement read in part: "Oxford is a proud city of sanctuary.

"Oxford City Council along with residents, charities, and voluntary groups, have a long record of standing in solidarity with all refugees and those seeking sanctuary, safety and a life of dignity and hope.

"The government’s decision to reopen Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre is wrong and inhumane and further demonises refugees and negatively impacts communities across our city." 

Previous protests outside the centre (Image: Bill MacKeith) Oxfordshire County Council also said it wrote to central government in 2022 opposing the reopening. 

A spokesman said: "This followed a successfully tabled motion to full council by councillor Ian Middleton whose council ward, Kidlington South, is close to the site." 

Green councillor Ian Middleton had previously tabled a motion at Oxfordshire County Council asking councillors to ask leader Liz Leffman to write to the Home Office to call for an end to any plans for the centre.  

Mr Middleton, who also sits on Cherwell District Council, had seen a similar motion defeated at that authority in July.

He previously said its reopening would be "truly horrific" for the town.

The 2022 Oxford City Council statement recalled hunger strikes, self-harm and suicide incidents at the Campsfield centre before it closed.

It said: "For over 25 years, residents, campaigners and organisations across the city have worked together tirelessly to get the centre closed down.

"Oxford City Council is unequivocally opposed to the reopening of Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre and calls on the government to create a fair, humane and compassionate immigration system.

"Oxford City Council will continue to ensure our services do not report people’s immigration status.

"We reaffirm our commitment to support refugees and asylum seekers as a city of sanctuary, and our support for the fantastic organisations across our city doing this work.”