Police are combing the Oxfordshire countryside for three detainees who took part in a planned escape from Campsfield detention centre.

With unfortunate timing, the breakout came on the day the Government launched a "get tough" drive on people who aid or employ illegal immigrants.

Seven detainees were found to be missing in the early hours of this morning, although four have since been recaptured. One, a Libyan who was due to be deported after serving time in a UK prison for minor assault and theft, was found this afternoon seven miles away in the Botanical Gardens in Oxford. Thames Valley Police was unable to confirm reports that he was eating tomatoes.

Two more have been returned to the centre and a fourth, who injured his ankles during the escape, is being treated in hospital.

The detainees who remain on the loose are two Palestinians and one Afghan national, who were being held at Campsfield as illegal immigrants.

“What I would say is that this wasn’t a simple walk out. It was more planned and complicated than that. This was a planned escape," said Inspector Graham Sutherland, of Thames Valley Police.

“Our senior officers are going to be meeting today with senior people at border control agencies and GPO (the private company that runs Campsfield).”

Mr Sutherland said that police and GPO knew how the men had escaped but could not release details. He refused to talk about what would be discussed at the meeting.

The men escaped through the back of the centre, which is situated on the outskirts of Kidlington not far from Oxford. Police were called at 3.30am but the men could have been missing since 2am, officers admitted.

Two of the men were found on the A44, one riding a bike and the other on foot, travelling in opposite directions. The third injured man had not got far from the centre, said Mr Sutherland.

Police threw a cordon around the site and 22 officers are searching the area, including outbuildings and sheds. Details and pictures of the men have been circulated to officers throughout the Thames Valley Police area.

The public has been asked to keep a look out for dishevelled, disorientated individuals. Although the men are not described as dangerous, the public is asked not to approach them but to notify police immediately.

Mr Sutherland said: “They should stand out in this community. Look out for people who are looking lost, perhaps searching for transport.”

Police were also called to the centre over the weekend, when GPO reported a disturbance.

Mr Sutherland said: “I would imagine that would be part of GPO’s investigation, but that will be dealt with internally and it is not for me to comment on.”

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: “This is the fifth major disturbance at Campsfield in little over a year and the second in a week.

“It raises serious questions about the wisdom of mixing foreign national ex-prisoners with immigration detainees. The frequency of fires and escapes suggests there are significant problems with either the Home Office system or the management of Campsfield itself.”

In London, nearly 80 police and immigration officers closed down a massive suspected immigration racket today with a series of early morning raids on a firm of solicitors and on colleges they believe are offering bogus courses to help immigrants enter Britain.

Police arrested at least eight men and women linked with companies they believe helped illegal immigrants to settle in the UK.

Officials believe the firm of solicitors at the centre of the inquiry was issuing false education certificates to immigrants. The illegals would then “enrol” at one of four bogus colleges across the capital and fraudulently apply for student visas.

Meanwhile Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, launched a new strategy to enforce immigration laws and catch offenders.

She revealed that employers found with illegal immigrants on their books have been fined more than £2.3 million since new penalties were introduced at the end of February. From today, offending employers are to be named and shamed on the border agency's website.

Ms Smith also announced a review by the Home Office and the DVLA to stop illegal immigrants getting hold of British driving licences.

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