MIGRANT rights campaigners demanded yesterday that notorious private immigration prison Yarl’s Wood be shut down following a damning report by inspectors.

Activists said they would take action ahead of a September debate in Parliament on jails.

Movement for Justice, which organised a hundreds-strong protest at the centre last weekend, said it would stage more direct action in solidarity with the women banged up inside.

The report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons said that 99 pregnant women were locked away in Yarl’s Wood in 2014 — nine of whom were turfed out of the country.

Royal College of Midwives director Louise Silverton said that the conditions at the detention centre — described as shockingly bad by inspectors — broke government guidelines on detaining pregnant women.

“Once again we are reiterating our calls (for) the Home Office to end the detention of pregnant women at Yarl’s Wood now.

“The women detained at Yarl’s Wood have a right to be cared for in dignified and respectful way just like any other pregnant woman.”

On September 10 the House of Commons will vote on whether to continue the the government’s detention programme.

Movement for Justice will hold demonstrations and public hearings on the day.

The group’s organiser Antonia Bright said: “These victories can be the beginning of the end of immigration detention.

“The Movement for Justice will be redoubling our fight to ensure its speedy demise.

“The only way to end the abuse, neglect and anger in detention is to end detention.”