STUDENTS at Durham and Sussex universities held a day of action today to demand that the institutions cut their “shameful” ties with “border profiteers” Mitie.
The top Home Office contractor, which runs four immigration removal centres including the newly opened Derwentside facility in Consett, county Durham, also has contracts to provide various services at the two universities.
The Mitie Must Fall campaign group argues that the firm’s role in Britain’s immigration system “puts students, especially those from migrant and refugee backgrounds, at risk, as well as hurting staff forced to work under diminishing conditions.”
Today, Durham students staged a demonstration and held workshops to raise awareness of Mitie’s role in Britain’s detention regime and the close proximity of Derwentside, which began holding women earlier this year.
A migrant student at Sussex, who did not wish to be identified, said that it was distressing to see the firm’s logo on campus.
“Coming here, I thought I was going to be a student at a university that cared about the wellbeing and education of migrant students, refugees and asylum-seekers,” said the student.
“Now I'm having to come to terms with the fact that my university basically funds an organisation that a couple of years ago would have played a role in my detainment. I’m angry and upset and Sussex needs to part ways with Mitie.”
The outsource giant has been embroiled in multiple scandals, most recently the failure of senior management to investigate a series of racist Whatsapp messages exchanged by Mitie staff.
Campaigners are calling for their universities to cut ties with Mitie and bring all outsourced workers in house.
A petition calling for the University of Sussex to cut ties with the firm has attracted 500 signatures and received the support of lecturers' union the UCU.
A Mitie spokesperson said in a statement: “As one of Britain’s largest employers we are proud of the hard work and dedication of our 75,000 colleagues up and down the UK.
"We do not set immigration policy, however, we are committed to ensuring those in our care are treated with dignity and respect. We are an award winning business for our employee benefits, approach to diversity and inclusion, and environmental commitments.”
