This afternoon activists from NoBorders and No One is Illegal held a noise demonstration outside Cedars, a detention centre for nine families and their children in Pease Pottage, Sussex, which opened last week.
The activists gathered outside the front gates (metal fencing with a perspex cover) with a banner denouncing Barnardo's involvement in the detention industry (the charity is running "social and welfare services" at the detention centre). They chanted through a loudspeaker and made noise with various instruments. They also walked part of the way round the perimeter fence, continuing to remonstrate loudly against detention and deportation.
There were guards in hi-vis vests in the grounds of the centre, and a UKBA guard was also spotted. There was no sign of any of the detainees.
As the activists left the centre they were stopped by police under the pretext of "anti-social behaviour".
The activists stated that protests will continue until Cedars closes.
See photos from the demo here.
