Yarl’s Wood IRC: a challenging year following repurposing of the centre

In its annual report for 2023 published today (17 October 2024), the Yarl’s Wood Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) outlines another challenging year marked by increased violence and disruptions. The report notes that the centre’s repurposing to accommodate men has led to heightened tensions and a rise in violent incidents.

Operation Safeguard, the policy aimed at reducing population pressures on the prison estate, has significantly contributed to an increase in foreign national prisoners in Yarl’s Wood. During the reporting year there was a rise in assaults on officers and five major incidents, including two which resulted in significant damage to the fabric of the building and one the escape of detained persons from the centre.

The IMB raises the following concerns: 

• The fragility of the building has been exposed by two major incidents and the IMB questions the suitability of Yarl’s Wood for the detention of higher-risk persons.
• The slow speed of the progression of men’s cases, leading to excessive length of detention. This causes distress and unrest between detained people, particularly for time served prisoners.
• Increasing numbers of individuals are arriving with mental health issues, including those transferring from the prison estate. Often information coming from prisons about the mental health and vulnerability of the men is lacking, creating unnecessary risk and increased workload for the staff. 

However, the IMB also highlights the following positives:

• The proactive approach of centre management in adding operational procedures to defuse potential altercations and engage in mediation between detained people.
• The continued good identification, support and supervision of detained people with mental health need and other vulnerabilities, despite the increase in numbers.
• The appointment of new staff with a diverse range of language skills to help support detained persons.

IMB Yarl’s Wood Chair, Paul Harris, said:

“During 2023, the centre was used as an IRC for both men and women. It was a challenging year with many foreign nation prisoners arriving at the centre, the impact of which has taken some adjustment, particularly the increase in violence.

The IMB has seen no improvement in processes relating to asylum status and/or removal and the length of stay continues to be an impediment to the smooth running of the centre. For the safety of all concerned and the well-being of detained persons, reducing length of stay must be a priority.

The IMB is also concerned that it has seen no progress in minimising the detention of vulnerable persons, with poor information coming from prisons about the mental health and vulnerability of persons being transferred to Yarl’s Wood.”