Protesters fined Derwentside Detention Centre demo

Protesters say the women have not had the proper in-person legal advice

Five people have been issued with fixed penalty notices (FPN) over protests outside a women's detention centre.

About 30 people gathered outside Derwentside Immigration Centre in County Durham on Wednesday to oppose the removal of inmates to Nigeria.

Durham Police said the five had been arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway, were given FPNs and released.

Protesters said 13 inmates were due to be removed but only three were taken away in a coach.

The exact number of women involved has not been confirmed but it is believed only one woman from Derwentside left on the plane from Birmingham Airport.

Dr Helen Groom, from the No To Hassockfield campaign group, said: "There were 13 women who'd been issued with removal directions, by the time the coach left there were three women on it..

"By the time they got to the airport in Birmingham two of the women had injunctions and were removed so only one woman from Hassockfields ended up on that flight."

The protest was backed by various groups, including Durham People's Assembly, Abolish Detention, No To Hassockfield and Women for Refugee Women.

They said the government had admitted there were 51 women detained at the unit and claimed "almost a third" of them "should not be there".

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The public rightly expects the government to remove dangerous foreign criminals and those with no right to be in the UK.

"All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered in accordance with our international obligations.

"Individuals at Derwentside have always been able to contact their legal representatives easily by telephone, email and video call - and also receive 30 minutes free advice through the legal aid scheme. Meetings in-person are also now able to take place on request."