Legal News

An investigation has been launched into the death of a 40-year-old woman detained at the Yarl’s Wood Immigration Centre in Bedfordshire on Sunday (30/03/14).

It is reported the woman died from a heart attack at the detention centre and the Home Office has said the death was “sudden and unexplained”. A spokeswoman for the Home Office said:

“Sadly, we can confirm the death of a female detainee at Yarl's Wood on March 30. It would not be appropriate to comment further as the death is subject to a police investigation.
“The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed in line with standard procedure.”

It is reported, however, that the woman who died was of Jamaican origin.

Reports which are unconfirmed say that the woman complained of feeling unwell and was given over-the-counter painkillers for a pain in her chest. Sources say she was heard shouting for help before she died, however.

Yarl’s Wood Immigration Centre in Bedfordshire has frequently been the focus of news reports – including a fire at the centre and recently the detention of teenager Yashika Bageerathi, who was due to be put on a plane back to Mauritius on Sunday (30/03/14), but who still remains at the centre awaiting a further announcement by the Home Office as to whether she can remain in the UK with the rest of her family.

In February, campaigners took to the streets of Westminster to demand the release of female detainees at Yarl’s Wood – more than 100 campaigners gathered outside the Home Office to deliver their message to Home Secretary Theresa May to end the detention of women at Yarl’s Wood.

The campaign is supported by human rights activist Shami Chakrabarti and the charity, Women for Refugee Women.

Shami Chakrabarti is calling on Theresa May to “rethink” UK immigration policy – and says that being a female refugee is “a special kind of hell”. On the evening of the protest in February, Ms Chakrabarti said:

“These are the most vulnerable people in our country, in our world.

“Many of the women in Yarl’s Wood were raped in the own country – prisoners on the other side of the world. Now we are holding them prisoner in the UK.

“It is a special kind of hell being a refugee woman, but there is a special place in hell for women who don’t stand by other women. Theresa May, I appeal to you as a woman … to set them free.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can advise on asylum in the UK and issues such as illegal entry to the UK and detention pending removal from the UK.

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can also offer legal advice on applications under Human Rights law – and making an appeal against refusal of a Human Rights Application.

For expert legal advice on immigration law and asylum in the UK, contact Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020 – or for urgent legal help call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.