Note: UKBA statement on transport of people’s belongings issued 1st August 2012. We have been finding cases where people have been told they cannot transport more than 2 bags of their belongings when being moved. In…

At a G4S-requested meeting with SYMAAG back in February 2012, their representatives explained that G4S’ “primary concern” was to make money for their shareholders in what they called “the asylum market”. It’s 6 months into…

  Private security army G4S have been in the news a lot recently. And not just because they are being paid £135 million of public money to house asylum seekers in Yorkshire, despite their record…

When G4S eventually won the COMPASS contract to house asylum seekers in Yorkshire, Humberside and the Midlands they were well aware that their experience with asylum seekers was limited to detaining them, transporting them to…

Latest news: UKBA claim there is “no evidence to substantiate the allegations that returnees to the DRC are at risk” (UKBA Chief Executive Rob Whiteman in a letter to Paul Blomfield MP 31/7/12.) See Returns…

Away from the front pages was the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to charge G4S with manslaughter following the death of Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan asylum seeker who died while being deported by…

 SYMAAG invited to Defend Council Housing conference   We’re pleased to report that SYMAAG members were invited to give a presentation at a recent conference of the Defend Council Housing (DCH) campaign group. They spoke about the danger…

It’s 3 weeks since we wrote the article below about a Bradford-based asylum seeking mother, and her baby being evicted and dumped in Doncaster. Since then SYMAAG and Why Refugee Women? are pleased to announce that she…

 The SYMAAG “No to G4S” working group next meets on Thursday 12th July, 6.30pm at Scotia Works   The next full SYMAAG meeting is on Monday 30th July, 6.30pm, again at Scotia Works    We…

38 people came to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of SYMAAG on May 1st in Sheffield. The meeting reviewed SYMAAG’s work over the last year, planned for the next and held elections for positions on the…