A PEOPLE'S tribunal is to be held over the way failed asylum seekers are being removed from the region.

North-East Coalition for Asylum Rights secretary Pete Wadlinski said the immigration service's procedures were ripping apart communities.

He is putting together a panel of professionals to hear evidence in a bid to influence a change in Government policy.

Mr Wadlinski said early morning removals were being carried out by immigration officers accompanied by police.

He said people were only allowed to take a 20kg suitcase.

Mr Wadlinski said: "Some of them have been here for three or four years and have a number of items that they are forced to just abandon.

"The children are not given the chance to say goodbye and it is traumatic for teachers and other pupils when a child simply doesn't turn up at school one day.

"There are a number of local people who have been affected by this."

Mr Wadlinski would like to hear from a human rights lawyer or an expert on immigration law, a religious leader and a member of community group to form a panel. He also wants to hear from people who have been affected by the removal of failed asylum seekers.

The tribunal will be held in March and a report of its findings will be sent to North-East MPs and the Home Office.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government has made it clear that it will take a robust approach to removing people from the country where they have no legal right to be here.

"Removing failed asylum seekers is a key part of our work to ensure effective immigration controls. Asylum seekers are given the opportunity to leave voluntarily at any point during their claim."

Mr Wadlinski can be contacted on 0791 021 8622.