DOZENS of protesters made their voices heard outside The Verne as a sign of solidarity for those inside.

Protesters travelled as far as Bristol to take part in a ‘noise demonstration’ outside the entrance to the immigration removal centre (IRC) on Portland on Saturday.

Chants of ‘Detention centres, shut them down’ could be heard whilst others played music on a loud speaker. A goat costume was used by protesters to signify what they claim is detainees being made ‘scapegoats’.

One protester, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There doesn’t seem to be compassion in the system at all. I would like detention to end full stop.

“I would like local people to realise this place exists and that people are being imprisoned without having committed a crime.”

Emma Jane, who travelled from Bristol with many others, said: “People are detained indefinitely and this can be from one day to three years.”

She added: “There is a big issue detaining people without trial but they’re doing it to 30,000 people in the UK every year.

“I believe people have the right to move, the right to migrate.

“We are having a noise demonstration because we want to show the people inside they haven’t been forgotten.”

“We want to raise awareness.

Most people in the UK don’t know what’s happening.”

Simultaneous demonstrations took place across the UK outside other centres. Protesters made noise to draw attention to the plight of those inside.

The Close the Verne group is supported by people from across the south west and is part of a wider campaign to shut down all detention centres.

The Verne, a former Category C prison, became a IRC in 2014.

Centres like The Verne hold foreign nationals waiting to hear back decisions on their asylum claims or those waiting deportation following a failed application.