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Detained people being transferred without medical history posing unnecessary risk at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre

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Yarl's Wood IRC

In its annual report for 2024 (published 5 August 2025), the Yarl’s Wood Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) notes that the centre has continued to face challenges, including an increased population of 40% since 2023. Levels of violence have remained on a par with 2023, attributable in part to the high proportion of foreign national offenders being detained there, at times over 50% of the male population. However, there was only one major incident during the year which the Board observed to be well managed, lessons having clearly been learned from the five major incidents that occurred in 2023.

The IMB highlights the following positives:

  • The efforts the Board has seen officers make to diffuse potential altercations and engage in mediation with detained persons.
  • The observed fair and humane treatment of detained persons by staff.
  • The range of health awareness sessions that were provided throughout the year by a well-staffed healthcare team.

However, the Board raises the following concerns:

  • The number of detained persons arriving at the centre with mental health issues, including those transferred from the prison estate. This, together with poor information sharing about the mental health and vulnerability of those being transferred, increases the workload of centre staff. 
  • The length of time that detained persons spend at the centre, leading to high levels of frustration and deteriorating mental health. Casework progression has not noticeably improved since 2023. 
  • Some detained persons requiring medical treatment arrived without their medical records. Medication cannot be prescribed until these records have been obtained or they are assessed by a GP, which places their health under unnecessary risk. 

Yarl’s Wood IMB Chair said:

“2024 was a challenging year with many foreign national offenders at Yarl’s Wood arriving from prison. However, the centre appears to have adjusted to the increased level of risk these particular detained people present given the reduction seen in the number of serious incidents.

The IMB has seen little improvement in the processing of asylum claims, although the Board notes there can be considerable variations in the length of stay for people. For the safety of all concerned and the well-being of detained persons, a reduction in the time people are held at centres must be a priority.

Finally, the centre cannot provide psychiatric in-patient care which has led to long periods of suboptimal care for individuals with severe mental illness whilst waiting for specialist treatment in a hospital.”