Fires started at asylum complex

Large-scale disturbances are taking place in the UK's largest immigration detention centre.

Police, prison officers and fire crews were called to the Harmondsworth centre, west London, in the early hours after a number of fires were started.

Last Updated: Wednesday, 29 November 2006, 11:34 GMT

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Fires started at asylum complex

Inmates were seen by TV crews taking aerial shots
Large-scale disturbances are taking place in the UK's largest immigration detention centre.

Police, prison officers and fire crews were called to the Harmondsworth centre, west London, in the early hours after a number of fires were started.

Detainees have been seen in a courtyard spelling out the word Help.

A prisons' watchdog report criticised the centre's regime this week after repeated disturbances there.

Detainees said they feared bullying, and staff were unaware of a special plan to prevent suicides.

The Home Office said it would draw up a plan to improve the centre.

In 2004 a detainee committed suicide, sparking a major disturbance that led to its temporary closure.

Since then, Harmondsworth has been at the centre of ongoing campaigns against detention of failed asylum seekers.