Source · IMB Annual Report
Scotland and Northern Ireland Short-Term Holding Facilities
Year: 2022
Published: 11 Aug 2022
Type: Prison · Cat STHF
Recommendations: 10
Key concerns
Positive findings
This IMB annual report for Scotland and Northern Ireland's Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) highlights significant welfare concerns for the reporting year ending January 2022. Key issues include widespread disability access shortfalls across the estate, an unacceptable increase in extended detentions in unsuitable airport holding rooms, and the unresolved problem of managing detainees' prescription medication. The Board also notes long-overdue facility upgrades at Larne House and inadequate ventilation systems, particularly concerning Covid-19 risks.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 2 | — |
| Use of force | 1 | — |
Positive findings
The Board generally found facilities safe for those without disabilities and commended C&C DCOs and UKBF staff for treating detainees respectfully, empathetically, and maintaining a caring culture. Health and wellbeing needs are generally met, and there has been an improvement in recording risks for vulnerable individuals. The Board also noted the successful resolution of some previous recommendations and the general accessibility of Aberdeen airport's holding room, with staff trained in disability awareness. Larne House is described as compact, clean, and fairly well decorated.
Key concerns
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
The lack of provision within the immigration detention estate, within our remit, for people in detention who have disability issues and the majority of HRs and the RSTHF do not meet current national disability access standards.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
An unacceptable increase, compared to previous years, in the number of people detained for more than eight hours, and sometimes overnight, in HRs which are not equipped or suitable for this, lacking basic hygiene facilities such as showers.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Holding Rooms (HRs) are in a number of cases not suitable for their intended purpose, with Prestwick airport's HR deemed totally unsuitable due to inaccessibility to wheelchairs, lack of CCTV, and no internal toilet facilities.
Safety
Repeated
Generally there are very few windows with openings to allow for the free flow of air within all HRs and the residential STHF, resulting in inadequate ventilation systems that do not ensure the Covid-19 virus does not circulate freely.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Planned building alterations, to ensure the safety and dignity of female detained people held at Larne House RSTHF, have not been completed and continue to be long overdue.
Healthcare
Repeated
The Home Office has still not satisfactorily resolved the major issue regarding detained people’s medication, specifically the removal of prescription medicines and the lack of a satisfactory regime for ensuring timely administration, posing serious health risks.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The bedrooms within Larne House RSTHF urgently require upgrading as the beds are not fit for purpose and there are no suitable seats available for detained people to use in their rooms for private use.
Estate/Conditions
The decor and general furnishing at Edinburgh airport HRs are in real need of redecoration.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
People are still being held for unacceptable lengths of time at the landing gates at Terminal 2, Edinburgh Airport, despite assurances regarding airside drivers, as the facilities at the gates are not appropriate for detention.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
The welcomed Vasco translation devices have been removed due to a fault, impacting communication with detained people, while a suitable replacement is yet to be sourced.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | We would urge the Minister to request that the Home Office carry out an urgent assessment of the risks to detained people as a result of the removal of their prescription medications. These risks should then be taken into account when designing a practical strategy for ensuring that detained people receive their appropriate medication. The desired outcome would be that the health and wellbeing needs of all detained people are met. Repeated | Other | |
| 2 | The HO should now commission a full national audit of the whole Immigration Detention Estate. An overall plan, with appropriate timelines, should then be drawn up to address the deficiencies identified at each location. The desired outcome would be detention facilities which meet current legal requirements, and thus ensure that all detained people, particularly those with disabilities, are treated in a dignified and humane manner. Repeated | Home Office | |
| 3 | Firstly, the Minister is urged to review the decision to increase the maximum permitted length of stay to eight hours. Secondly, we would ask that the Home Office identify and address the reasons for the considerable increase, compared to previous years, in numbers of people being detained in the Glasgow and Edinburgh airports HRs for more than eight hours. The desired outcome, for both recommendations, would be that detained people experience a more humane experience on transfer or removal. Repeated | Other | |
| 4 | We suggest, that in the light of the delays and the requirement to provide facilities compliant with disability access requirements, that the Minister reconsiders the decision to partially accept our recommendation for a HR in Terminal 2, and to now fully commit to the recommendation. The desired outcome would be that the delays in people being transferred from the control desk to the HR would be reduced and the facility would comply with disability access requirements. Hygiene facilities such as showers could be incorporated in the new HR, thus providing for the fair and humane treatment of all detained people. Repeated | Other | |
| 5 | We would ask that a suitable replacement for the Vasco units be sourced and provided as a priority. The desired outcome would be that communications with detained people could be greatly enhanced, thus ensuring their welfare. Repeated | Home Office | |
| 6 | We strongly recommend that, as a first step, UKBF, Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) and C&C undertake a technical risk assessment of their premise. Should the assessment advise that appropriate forced air ventilation be installed, we then urge that the work is given priority status. The desired outcome would be that the health and wellbeing of detained people and the staff working in those establishments are maintained. Repeated | Home Office | |
| 7 | We therefore now request that a detailed plan, complete with achievable timelines, be provided to the Board. The desired outcome will be that the safety and dignity of women in detention can be assured. Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 8 | We recommend that the bedroom accommodation is improved, thus affording appropriate sleeping accommodation and facilities for private time. The outcome would be the fair and humane detention of each detained person. Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 9 | We recommend that C&C commission the redecoration of the existing HRs as soon as possible to ensure a fresh and welcoming environment for detained people. The desired outcome would be the humane detention of each detained person. | Governor / Director | |
| 10 | We recommend that the HR be brought up to basic requirements by UKBF installing portable secure Wi-Fi and connecting a CCTV system to it. We understand that a section of elevator had been removed and stored elsewhere in the terminal. It could be brought back into service. The desired outcome would be that detained people would be detained within a safe and secure facility, appropriate to their needs. Repeated | Home Office |
Report details
- Establishment
- Scotland and Northern Ireland Short-Term Holding Facilities
- Type
- Prison · Cat STHF
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 11 August 2022
- Recommendations
- 10
Population
| Operational capacity | 19 |
Service providers
Catering
Dalcross Handling
Detention Custody / Border Enforcement
UK Border Force (UKBF)
Detention Custody / Management
Care and Custody (C&C)