Justice ministry to take control of refugee centres

Junior justice minister Fred Teeven is planning to take control of the body which organises accommodation for asylum seekers and abolish its supervisory board.

The move follows MPs’ concerns about the culture within the COA following the sacking of its director Nurten Albayrak in 2011. She was fired following the publication of a report which criticised her methods and said there was a climate of fear among staff.

The COA will also be able to work more closely with the immigration and deportation services if it is under ministerial control, Nos television reported.

The switch will take place in 2015 after a handover period, Teeven said.

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