Viraj Medis seized from church - Vicar responds

Title

Viraj Medis seized from church - Vicar responds

Genre

Interview

TX Date

18 Jan 1989

Year of production

1989

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Duration

00:01:30

Description

The arrest of Sri Lankan (failed asylum seeker?) Viraj Mendis has provoked a political storm. Clergymen and politicans have attacked the manner of his arrest, particularly the level of force that was used. John Methuen, the vicar of the Church of the Ascension where Mendis had been hiding since December 1986, says the church raid was carried out in a less than sensitive manner and the Home Office must be held responsible for what has happened.

Contributors

John Methuen

Keywords

Deportation; Government; Law; Police; UK; Immigration; Clergy; Manchester; Policing practice; Refugees; Ethnic groups; Churches; Church and State; Sri Lanka; Asylum seekers; Arrests; Home Office; Tamils; Viraj Mendis

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