Woolas office stormed by protestors

Saturday, 14 March 2009 5:47 PM

Immigration minister Phil Woolas escaped unharmed after protestors stormed his constituency office in Oldham East and Saddleworth.

The Labour MP, who has called for stricter immigration controls, was speaking to a constituent at his office when members of the Manchester No Borders group came into the office and started filming as they put up posters on the walls.

The 49-year-old politician said his assistant called the police immediately and two officers then escorted him out of the building.

He said the group did not cause any damage to the premises and had not been violent.

Speaking about the incident, he said: "When I realised they weren't violent it was quite a relief. My assistant and I didn't know they weren't going to be violent, so initially it is scary.

"It is frightening and an abuse of the system when politicians are trying to be open and meet the public."

Seth Jones, a spokesman for the Manchester No Borders group said: "Pennine House is just one of many shameful facilities where immigrants are held without charge, trial or sentence."

The group's website says that it is against "immigration prisons" where they claim asylum seekers are being kept indefinitely "without committing a crime".

Pennine House in an immigration detention centre were migrants are kept prior to their deportation from the country.

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