Safety statistics
Incidents during reporting year
Positive findings
AI-generated summary
The Board is satisfied that Dungavel House IRC provides a safe, fair, and humane environment for detainees, with sufficient staff and no overcrowding. Staff are commended for their caring attitude and mutual respect with residents, who generally feel safe and appreciate the open regime. Healthcare provision is good, and the Independent Learning Centre is well-utilised, fostering positive staff-resident relationships.
Key concerns
7 items
Other
Residents’ main concerns relate to the uncertainty of their futures.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
the temperature in the care and separation unit was found on occasion to have been too high.
Other
Some of the literature in the multifaith area has been questionable, being more political than religious in nature. Whilst there has been nothing directly inflammatory, materials which concern mainly political matters should not be displayed in this area.
Safety
Repeated
consideration should be given to installing robust preventative measures to ensure that roofs are not accessible to detained persons.
Staffing
Repeated
Some staff should be trained in negotiation techniques, as per our previous recommendation.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Admissions arrive at any time, day or night. Detainees often arrive very late at night from Edinburgh airport only to be taken back there early in the morning for assessment. This seems unnecessarily inconvenient to the persons concerned.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Plans are in place with the facilities manager to expand the current parking area. The project is still in the planning phase and has not yet broken ground.
Recommendations
4 items · 3 repeated
Addressee: Governor / Director
As has been mentioned in previous reports, consideration should be given to installing robust preventative measures to ensure that roofs are not accessible to detained persons. This would help towards the safety of residents and staff.
Repeated
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Safety
Addressee: Governor / Director
Some staff should be trained in negotiation techniques, as per our previous recommendation.
Repeated
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Staffing
Addressee: Governor / Director
During 2022 the temperature in the care and separation unit was found on occasion to have been too high. This area is already austere and relatively uncomfortable (it is impossible to look out of a window and there is no desk in any of the four cells, to give just two examples) so it is important to keep the temperature at a reasonable level.
Repeated
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Estate
Addressee: Governor / Director
Some of the literature in the multifaith area has been questionable, being more political than religious in nature. Whilst there has been nothing directly inflammatory, materials which concern mainly political matters should not be displayed in this area.
Source text verified
Recorded status:
Topic: Other
Related inspections & investigations
1 Sep 2025
HMIP · Unannounced
18 Aug 2025
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 4
19 Jul 2021
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 3
· Release 3
Other reports for Dungavel House IRC
2024
Published 29 Oct 2025
Population 114
· Self-harm 4
· Concerns
2021
Published 5 Oct 2022
Population 14
· Self-harm 3
· Concerns
2020
Published 22 Jun 2021
Population 30
· Self-harm 9
· Concerns