Priorities for a prevention of death strategy in Immigration Removal Centres

Improve the transparency of data in relation to deaths in detention by improving Home Office website signposting and through publication of a quarterly statistical report. Provide disaggregated data covering ethnicity, age, location, possible risk groups, type of death (in progress).

To improve transparency and improve learning, expand the definition of a ‘death’ in an IRC, for example by collecting and publishing details of detainees who die in prison while under immigration powers and those who die shortly after leaving detention (in progress).

Introduce reporting to mirror that of HMPPS to provide notification of deaths to key external stakeholders.

Develop an increased understanding of the impact of cultural differences on the effectiveness of suicide prevention strategies.

Improve, expand and utilise translation services. Explore ways for all staff to have access to interpretation services, for example through mobile devices (in progress).

Improve information sharing between prison and immigration removal centres. Key information (such as any vulnerabilities, history of violence, any mental health or clinical concerns) about the individual should be shared ahead of their arrival so that the immigration centre has adequate time to plan and prepare.

Develop and introduce a system with immigration centres that tracks any important dates or decisions that might be of importance to the detainee such as days leading up to deportation, around trials and / or appeals.

Review and share learning and best practice on childhood and later trauma with aim of using it to prevent suicide and self-harm.

Review and sharing of learning and best practice on how different organisations train staff, particularly on suicide and self-harm prevention.

Ensure clear communication with detainees through information that is tailored to suit their unique needs and circumstances. Facilitate family contact where possible to provide support and mitigate feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty.

Carry out further research to examine the impact of decreases to the immigration population, both in recent years and as part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, on self-harm rates and wider wellbeing indicators.

Prioritise alternatives to detention for those with pre-existing or significant mental health needs (in progress).

Carry out further research comparing remand, IPP prisoners and others serving indeterminate terms with those detained in IRCs to further understand the impact of uncertainty and hopelessness on detainees.

Increase resources for Samaritans and listeners within IRCs.

Ensure that vital information is shared between hospitals and immigration removal centres.

Provide guidance to staff to enquire about the urgency of a matter which leads to a detainee requesting a healthcare appointment.

Review healthcare screening processes to account for language barriers and the likelihood of limited prior interaction with healthcare systems and ensure that processes are understood and the detainee can participate.

Work with HMPPS to update ACDT within removal centres (in progress).

Develop and roll out cultural awareness training for staff to increase understanding of the different ways in which detainees might express pain or anxiety.

Introduce the use of a checklist system or other cognitive aid that can be used by staff members during times of emergency to aid them to treat an individual humanely and effectively.

Formalise mechanisms for sharing lessons learned across IRCs following a death and the involvement of independent scrutiny and facilitation at lessons learned exercises.

Share regular updates of good practice with the different service providers encouraging them to share good practice with each centre. Good practice should be disseminated via regular newsletters or regular meetings with senior management of each centre. Devise formal ways of checking that learning has been embedded.

Work with the Ministry of Justice to allow non-relatives and relevant organisations to apply to be recognised as an interested person where family representation is not possible. Deliver improvements to information provided to bereaved families, including sources of specialist advice and support.

Develop method of providing resources and feedback to bereaved families on actions taken and ensure these are subject to a regular review (in progress).