Source · IMB Annual Report

Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre

AI-generated report summary The IMB annual report for Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre (HIRC) for 2022 highlights persistent issues despite generally safe conditions. Key concerns include the safety implications of processing South Coast Arrivals, the continued detention of individuals with severe mental health issues, and a dilapidated infrastructure leading to major service disruptions and a site evacuation. The report also raises concerns about the quality of food, the inappropriate use of the Care and Separation Unit, and a lack of effective engagement from the Detention Engagement Team.

Year: 2022 Published: 18 Aug 2023 Type: IRC · Cat IRC Recommendations: 16 Key concerns Positive findings

Original IMB report page ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year

Indicator	This year	Previous
Self-harm incidents	150	104
ACCT cases opened	523	486
Prisoner assaults	58	—
Assaults on staff	22	—
Use of force	58	122
Drug finds	58	40

Positive findings

AI-generated summary

The Board notes the smooth transition of healthcare provision from CNWL to Practice Plus Group and welcomed the gradual reintroduction of wellbeing initiatives to the Centre. The advertising of facilities and competitions, along with a renewed buzz in education and sports, was positive. The Contractor was commended for efforts in promoting purposeful activity and for contributing to a positive atmosphere, despite challenges. Staff also aim to act quickly on bed bug suggestions, and cultural kitchens remained popular.

Key concerns

9 items

Safety The situation with respect to the arrival and management of SCAs in the Short-Term Holding Facility (STHF) area severely compromised safety for the SCA men and women, for existing detainees and for staff. Overcrowding on arrival and truncated health assessments were particularly evident and created unacceptable pressures.

Mental Health Repeated We remain concerned that people who are mentally unfit for detention are still assessed and approved by the Home Office Gate Keeper for detention. Furthermore, the IMB feels that failings of the detention engagement team (DET) to engage effectively may have contributed to feelings of frustration and powerlessness for some detainees, potentially leading to incidents of self-harm.

Estate/Conditions Repeated The fairness and humanity with which detainees are treated is severely tested by the dilapidated nature of the infrastructure in which they are expected to reside. The Board notes, in particular, the frequency of loss of services (power, gas, water and communications) throughout the year (over 30 incidents, culminating in a 42-hour power and water outage which forced the evacuation of the entire Harmondsworth site), the state of the ventilation and heating systems and the hostel-style units on the Harmondsworth site which require considerable updating to be fit for purpose.

Food/Catering Repeated The Board recognises the difficulties encountered in catering for a diverse population of detainees on a limited budget but remains concerned about the effect the variety, quantity and quality of the food on offer is having on detainee physical and mental wellbeing, as well as on the safety and security of the Centre.

Segregation Repeated The Board notes that the CSU was used 38 times in the year to facilitate removal directions, in some cases a number of days in advance of flights which were then cancelled. We also note that the CSU was used to house detainees who refused, for whatever reason, to share a room when the Centre was nowhere near full capacity. Given the directions included in Rules 40 and 42 of Detention Services Order 02/2017 the Board does not believe that the CSU should be used for these purposes.

Staffing Repeated The Board remains extremely concerned about the lack of DET engagement with residents throughout the year, frustration with which resulted in a number of incidents of concerted indiscipline.

Complaints/Property We have been told repeatedly by detainees that there is no point making complaints regarding contracted services because they will not be properly investigated. The statistics for 2022, whereby 85% of all official complaints relating to the Contractor were ruled ‘unsubstantiated’ would seem to lend some credibility to these concerns.

Resettlement/Release Repeated The Board repeats its concern for the third year running that too many detainees are held for unacceptably long periods of time with no chance of imminent removal.

Resettlement/Release Repeated The Board repeats once more concerns about the time taken to find suitable bail accommodation once bail has been granted in principle, particularly for time served foreign national offenders (TSFNO).