Controversial plans to open a women's only immigration detention centre in County Durham have been confirmed by the Government despite local opposition.
Earlier this year the Home Office revealed plans to turn the former Hassockfield Detention Centre, in Consett, into a Category-3 style prison to detain around 80 people who have had applications for UK residency denied.
Hassockfield closed in 2014 and was the site of the former Medomsley Detention Centre - a youth facility where five members of staff have been convicted for their brutal physical and sexual abuse of youngsters in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Ministers have revealed Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre will open by the end of the year, replacing Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire as the only dedicated site for women in the country.
The Government have said it will hold both foreign national offenders and immigration offenders while awaiting deportation and removal from the UK.
The centre, which can hold up to 84 women and will be run by Mitie Care & Custody Ltd, is expected to be "fully operational by the end of the year" and could create 200 jobs, the Home Office said.
In a written ministerial statement to Parliament announcing the decision, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Detention plays a limited, but crucial role in maintaining effective immigration control and securing our borders.
"It is right that those with no right to remain in the UK are removed if they do not leave voluntarily.
"This new, smaller immigration removal centre will replace Yarl's Wood as the only dedicated immigration removal centre for women.
"In order to maintain operational flexibility, we will continue to maintain some limited detention capacity for women at Colnbrook, Dungavel and Yarl's Wood.
"These changes will significantly reduce the overall immigration detention capacity for women."
She said the Government was "committed to ensuring the proper protection and treatment of vulnerable people in detention", adding: "Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of women is at the forefront of the new facility, and builds on the learning and experience of Yarl's Wood."
The move has been vehemently criticised by some local people, politicians and campaign groups and meant previous plans for a multi-million pound housing scheme from Homes England that were approved by the local authority would be scrapped.
In June, councillors agreed to write to the Secretary of State of Justice and Lord Chancellor to confirm the local authority does not believe the use of Hassockfield as an immigration centre is an acceptable use of the site.
A protest against the plans is set to take place in Consett next weekend.
Among the objectors is former North West Durham MP Laura Pidcock, who criticised the Government's move on social media.
In a statement, Miss Pidcock wrote: "Such an awful announcement.
"This is part of the deepening of the hostile environment - our fellow human beings detained by what is a dehumanising immigration system.
"Please join us at the National Demonstration on Saturday, December 4 at 11.30am in Consett."
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