Series of reports made by BBC Essex in 1987 on use of former Channel Islands ferry Earl William as detention centre for illegal immigrants, mainly Tamils, at Harwich. Comprises six separate clips. Note some of the clips are as broadcast; some is extra material recorded but never broadcast.

Read more about the recording on Essex Archives Online:
seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_details.…Set=1&id=312208

Clip 1: Objections by National Union of Seamen; opinions of local people about the use of the ship for detention.

Clip 2: Interview with Tamil detainees on hunger strike over conditions on board.

Clip 3: Interview with Chairman of International Council for Protection of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, Vigneswara Rajah, on proposal to accommodate refugees in Birmingham.

Clip 4: Recording of demonstration on Quayside in support of refugees; comments by spokesmen for refugee pressure groups about treatment of detainees.

Clip 5: Interview with escaped detainee on how he escaped and treatment by security staff; account by Harwich Councillor Ralph Knight on conditions on board ship and futility of operation.

Clip 6: Interview with Sir Julian Ridsdale, then MP for Harwich, on impending visit to ship to meet detainees and on opportunities for local employment brought by the situation.

Image of the ferry Earl William captured by Albert Bridge whilst the Ferry was in Belfast in 1990 (Albert Bridge / The "Earl William" at Belfast / CC BY-SA 2.0).

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MP Sir Julian Ridsdale on visit to ship, employment opportunities from situation(SA 1/669/1 Tape 6)

Essex Record Office