THE Chief Inspector of Prisons has denounced Britain's system for dealing with asylum-seekers as "a complete and utter shambles" after visiting Campsfield House detention centre at Kidlington.

Sir David Ramsbotham paid a surprise visit to the centre, controlled by the Group 4 security firm, in Langford Lane, after riots by detainees last August.

His condemnation of the asylum system - in a letter leaked to Channel 4 News - was echoed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, which said Britain had the worst record in Europe on treatment of detainees.

In his letter, Sir David wrote: "I believe there is a complete and utter shambles, not only as far as the immigration policy is concerned but over all areas connected with immigration detainees and asylum seekers."

Referring to Campsfield, he added: "Group 4 have been put in an impossible situation because their contract is not clear. They do not know what rights and responsibilities they have in dealing with detainees."

The UNHCR's representative in the UK, Peter van der Vaart, told Channel 4 News: "Britain has more asylum seekers in detention for longer periods of time, with less legal safeguards than any other European country.

"Asylum seekers are in detention here although they have committed no crime."

There have been frequent demonstrations outside Campsfield House calling for its closure.

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