Recommendation · source text
I recommend that all complaints of racism at Oakington, however dealt with, are formally recorded.
Source · Detention investigation
Investigation into Allegations of Racism and Mistreatment of Detainees at Oakington Immigration Reception Centre
Immigration Detention
Published 14 Jul 2005
Commissioned by Home Office
Subject G4S
Investigator Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
Index summary
PPO special investigation into allegations of racism and mistreatment of detainees at Oakington Immigration Reception Centre, commissioned after the BBC documentary 'Detention Undercover'.
Recommendations
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I recommend that IND commissions a race relations audit of the entire removal estate.
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I recommend that staff are instructed not to touch detainees or their beds while waking them up.
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I recommend that the Race Relations Liaison Manager’s office be re-located in the main compound and that the remit for the postholder should emphasise that they must spend more time out and about.
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I recommend that the whistleblowing policy be ‘talked up’ during initial training and further endorsed during subsequent training.
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I also recommend that a new term be chosen that reflects the positive nature of the arrangements.
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I recommend that GSL develops a training package for newly promoted managers which should cover amongst other things leadership, giving positive and negative feedback, and effective supervision of staff.
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I also recommend that, wherever possible, staff are promoted into a different shift from the one in which they have worked as a DCO.
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I recommend that the senior management offices be re-located at the heart of the compound.
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I recommend that senior managers ensure that strict deadlines are adhered to when progressing complaints and grievances.
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I also recommend that those who raise issues or grievances are given regular progress reports.
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I recommend that the staff of Green Shift be dispersed equally amongst the other shifts.
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Alongside the contractors, I recommend IND considers establishing a zero-tolerance campaign across the detention estate, with appropriate posters and literature, to remind staff of the expected standards of conduct.
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I recommend that GSL ceases the practice of highlighting Eastern Europeans and automatically entering their names in the ‘Blue Book’.
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I recommend that GSL managers are reminded to avoid supposition and generalisations in asking for authority to segregate detainees. Evidence should be factual, objective and specific to the individual.
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I recommend that IND introduces new audit procedures to ensure the objectivity of requests for segregation.
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I recommend that GSL urgently establishes an area within the main compound for the care of those at risk of suicide and self-harm.
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I recommend that a protocol is drawn up between GSL and IND specifying the qualities necessary for DCOs allocated to the DDU. Any officers so allocated should have enhanced interpersonal skills and training, and their integrity must be beyond doubt.
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I recommend that Officers B and C’s status is checked and that their accreditation be withdrawn if this has not already happened.
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I recommend that IND reviews the relationship between escort contracts and removal centre contracts with a view to building in contractual requirements relating to timely presentation of detainees for escorts.
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I recommend that IND consults with BAA about ways of accelerating entry to Heathrow.
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I recommend that IND urgently reviews the use of, and conditions in, the Queen's Building at Heathrow.
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I recommend that washing, eating and toilet facilities be made available at all sites where detainees are likely to be held for more than an hour.
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I recommend that IND urgently reviews the lawfulness of the 'segregation room' in Queen's Building and establishes a clear protocol to govern its use.
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I recommend that IND reviews the Aardvark programme; in particular, it should review the frequency of flights with a view to improving seat occupancy levels.
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I recommend that staff be trained to ask the detainee by what name he/she would like to be called and to check with him/her their pronunciation of the name.
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I recommend that further training be provided to escort staff on effective and appropriate engagement with detainees.
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I recommend that Securicor requires staff to take regular meal-breaks.
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I recommend that IND and Securicor review the logistics of escorted removals to minimise the time that staff and detainees spend waiting at airports.
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I recommend that the Immigration Service considers introducing music or radio into vans and that detainees be offered something to read or do during the wait.
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I recommend that IND negotiates with GSL to produce a version of the DVD that could be used for training purposes.
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I recommend that IND and its contractors jointly review the shift patterns worked by staff in the immigration detention arena.
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I recommend that Oakington’s IMB members be offered refresher training in relation to their powers and how to ensure maximum effectiveness.
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I recommend that Securicor draws my views to the attention of those officers still employed who were responsible for taping the detainee's skirt together between her legs, and considers what further action may be required.
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I recommend that the IMB carry out more frequent, unannounced visits between 9:00pm and 9:00am in order to assess the centre during all its hours of operation.
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In general, I believe that Boards in IRCs (as in prisons) need to develop a range of techniques for taking the temperature of an institution in addition to formal applications and walking the site. I think the idea of regular 'surgeries' could also be added to the list above, and recommend that consideration be given to all these proposals as a matter of urgency.
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I recommend that IND and the National Council of IMBs take steps to provide IMB scrutiny of all areas (that is, vans and holding areas) where detainees are held.
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The computerised monitoring schedule needs to be redesigned to make it more flexible and adaptable in monitoring and recording non-commercial aspects of the contract; A training analysis should be conducted across monitoring teams to ascertain the levels of understanding surrounding issues of passive discrimination. The above recommendations should be applied at all centres where applicable.
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I recommend that all casework currently undertaken by the contract monitor be assigned elsewhere.
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I recommend that clear guidelines are produced for contract monitors.
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I recommend that IND gives urgent consideration to contract monitoring in relation to all holding rooms.
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I recommend that IND considers the advantages and practicality of contract monitors carrying out investigations into allegations against staff in other centres.
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I recommend that all contractors carry out ethnic monitoring of all complaints, overseen by the respective contract monitors.
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I recommend that a formal protocol is drawn up between the contractor and the Immigration Service setting out the circumstances in which attempts at removal could be abandoned.
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I recommend that IND’s Detainee Estate Population Management Unit (DEPMU) staff are reminded of the emotional and practical problems (including access to legal advice) associated with movement, and encouraged to keep moves to a minimum.
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I also recommend that the performance of the RFU – in terms both of facilitating removals and forestalling problems between the contractor and the detainee – is monitored with a view to introducing a RFU at other ports.
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I recommend that contract monitors be instructed personally to investigate all allegations against members of staff.
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I recommend that a module on complaints handling and investigation is incorporated in the training package for contract monitors.
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I recommend that a separate resource is identified and properly trained to handle complaints and associated work.
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I recommend that IND establishes the office of Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on an administrative basis as the independent tier of its detainee complaints system as a matter of priority. The Ombudsman should be required expressly to act as guardian of the whole complaints system and funded accordingly.
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I recommend that the Immigration Service urgently considers the provision of pagers to detainees at Oakington.
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I recommend that GSL reorganises its ITC to ensure that race relations training informs the whole of the course.
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I recommend IND reviews the assessment and screening processes developed for the police to determine whether they might be relevant in an immigration context.
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I recommend that IND considers what information might usefully be given to detainees about Use of Force and in what form. Care must be taken to avoid suggestions of oppression or intimidation.