One year on, failings identified by Brook House Inquiry still not addressed

The Gatwick Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) has found failings in safeguarding processes, which were identified in the Brook House Inquiry, that have still not been addressed. Together with failings in release processes, this has resulted in many vulnerable people being unnecessarily subjected to the harmful effects of immigration detention. Its 2023 annual report, published today (29 August 2024), also raises concerns about the use of ‘Operation Safeguard’, which has transferred men previously held in prisons under immigration powers to Immigration Removal Centres, in order to relieve current population pressures on prisons. This has meant that men with a higher risk profile were being detained alongside very vulnerable individuals, which had an impact on the safety of the centre.

The IMB is particularly concerned that:

• Following the Brook House Inquiry, weak Home Office safeguards still failed to prevent vulnerable men from being detained and were inconsistent in ensuring that vulnerability was both assessed and addressed promptly. 
• Poor release processes, such as the Home Office and Probation Service’s failure to approve bail addresses in a timely manner, meant that many men were subjected to lengthy and avoidable delays to release, causing significant distress.
• Use of force doubled in the reporting year and nearly all men were handcuffed while being taken to hospital, which can be humiliating and distressing. Use of separation (being held in isolation) was also much higher, including in ways that the Board considers punitive and inconsistent with the regulations.
• Measures such as increased lock-up times and the wearing of full protective equipment in all planned uses of force can exacerbate stresses already caused by the environment.

The Gatwick IMB acknowledges the compassion and care that has been witnessed being shown toward detained men on the part of some staff members at both Brook House and Tinsley House, especially those working with particularly vulnerable men. We encourage the Home Office, Serco and the healthcare provider Practice Plus Group to continue to work toward improving and maintaining a culture that treats detained people with respect and dignity. However, as in previous years, we reiterate our view that detention without a time limit is unfair and inhumane.

Gatwick IMB Vice-Chair, Clea Kahn, said:

“The Board is very concerned that some of the issues we continue to raise echo findings of the Brook House Inquiry. This includes the need for more robust safeguarding, particularly in relation to the Detention Gatekeeper, and the full use of Rule 35[1] to minimise the risk of harm from detention. We are concerned that the need for review and change in the areas highlighted by the Inquiry are not being taken seriously enough. In addition, the Board is seeing signs of a general hardening of conditions at the Gatwick detention centre. This includes security measures like the increase in lock-up times, resulting in less time for men to engage in activities, contact their families or pursue their legal cases.”

[1] The Rule 35 process is designed to act as a safeguard for people in detention who are particularly vulnerable due to poor health, risk of suicidal intentions, or having been a victim of torture.