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.”