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London Heathrow and City Airports

AI-generated report summary This IMB report for Heathrow and City Airports' Short-Term Holding Facilities covers February 2021 to January 2022. It highlights ongoing concerns regarding extended detention times, inadequate facilities—especially for families in Terminal 5—and a critical lack of Wi-Fi and consistent access to medication across all sites. Despite these issues, the Board notes positive developments such as improved access to medical support at Heathrow, updated religious provisions, and generally respectful interactions from staff, while urging further improvements in staffing, infrastructure, and detainee welfare.

Year: 2022 Published: 29 Jun 2022 Type: Prison · Cat Short-Term Holding Facility Recommendations: 14 Key concerns Positive findings
Original IMB report page ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Self-harm incidents0—
ACCT cases opened12—
Use of force0—

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The Board is pleased to be able to report on various areas of progress since last year’s report, including the contracting of AeroMed paramedics for Heathrow Airport holding rooms, improving access to medication. New holding room construction has started at Eaton House, and sacred books in all STHFs have been reviewed and updated. There is improved safety training for staff, ensuring good communication during emergencies. The Board noted the improved standard of inductions, sensitive and respectful searches, and observed Border Force officers and DCOs generally treating individuals with respect and consideration, often providing caring support under pressure. Initiatives like picture menus for meals and audited toy provision for children are also positive. Complaint investigations were thorough, and the IMB now has access to redacted PPO reports. Good practice by DCOs in seeking outside health advice was also noted.

Key concerns

11 items
Estate/Conditions Repeated Inadequate facilities for families and children in Terminal 5, lacking integrated toilet, shower, and baby-changing facilities.
Staffing 11. [London Heathrow Airport] The Board recommends that more officers be deployed at peak times, to avoid unnecessarily extended periods of detention in the controlled waiting areas and in the holding rooms.
Estate/Conditions Repeated Frequent lack of access to showers due to non-provision (Terminal 5) or poor maintenance (Terminals 2 and 3). Source wording under review
Healthcare As for the preceding four years, those detained have not been able to access their own prescribed medication or over-the-counter medication. This led to anxiety and upset. On 1 February 2022, AeroMed paramedics were appointed to Heathrow, to attend to such health needs. Unfortunately, this solution is not possible for those held at London City, Becket House or Eaton House. If the DCOs are concerned about the health of an individual, they call the London Ambulance Service.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated The lack of Wi-Fi in the holding rooms means that those who are detained cannot use the internet to communicate with family, friends or employers, and it may also inhibit communication for those with hearing and speech impairment.
Equality/Diversity Repeated Delays in Thebigword interpreting service and DCOs assuming English comprehension during inductions. Source wording under review
Estate/Conditions 4 A consistent complaint from the DCOs throughout the year has been the erratic temperatures experienced in the two holding rooms despite the fact that they are controlled at a single point.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Long waiting times for transport and transfers, particularly at reporting centres and for asylum seekers. Source wording under review
Safety 14 Problematic situations sometimes arise due to lack of separate accommodation for men and women. Some women are anxious about lying down to rest in a room with men who are strangers.
Regime/Time Out of Cell It would be a good project for all the toys and books to be audited and redistributed so that provision is more even across the holding rooms. There is also a need to replace missing and damaged toys and books. Used colouring books should be thrown away.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Unfortunately, this year there have been long periods when the BT payphones have been out of order. In Terminal 3, the payphone has not been working since mid-August to beyond the end of the reporting period. The Terminal 5 phone was not in use for four months from the beginning of November.

Recommendations

14 items · 4 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Home Office

[London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5] The Board repeats its recommendation that the Home Office should substantially improve the facilities for families and children in Terminal 5. These are currently excessively cramped, and they lack an integrated toilet, shower and baby-changing facilities. (See paragraphs 4.3.46 – 4.3.48)

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Home Office

[London Heathrow Airport] The Board recommends that if a holding room is being reconstructed, consideration be given to accommodating men and women separately, as recommended by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. (See paragraphs 4.2.14 and 4.2.15)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Accommodation

Recommendation 3

Addressee: Home Office

[London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5] The Home Office should progress the provision of a shower in Terminal 5, to comply with the National Holding Room Standards (See paragraph 4.3.14)

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Home Office

[London Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 and 3] The maintenance of showers should be prioritised, so that they remain functional at all times. (See paragraphs 4.3.15 and 4.3.16)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Home Office

[London City Airport and Eaton House] The Board recommends that a workable solution can be found for those detained to have access to their prescribed medication. (See paragraphs 6.4.6 and 8.4.3)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Healthcare

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Home Office

[All holding rooms] The Board repeats its recommendation that the Home Office should arrange for Wi-Fi and internet access for those held in all holding rooms, even if it is only available when DCOs can supervise access. (See paragraphs 4.3.35 – 4.3.37; 6.3.15)

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 7

Addressee: Home Office

[All holding rooms] The Board recommends that Wi-Fi is accessible in the holding rooms for those with hearing and speech impairment, so that they can communicate with DCOs. (See paragraphs 4.3.35 – 4.3.37)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Recommendation 8

Addressee: Home Office

[London Heathrow Airport Cayley House] The Board recognises that overnight stays at Cayley House before removals were unavoidable during the pandemic. However, we recommend that, where overnight stays for those coming from prisons and distant IRCs are required, the practice of accommodating them for a night or two at one of the Heathrow IRCs should be resumed at the earliest opportunity. (See paragraphs 4.5.3 – 4.5.5)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Accommodation

Recommendation 9

Addressee: Home Office

[London City Airport] The Board recommends that further pressure be brought to bear on London City Airport managers to address the issue of the erratic temperatures being experienced in the holding rooms. (See paragraphs 6.3.4 and 6.3.5)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 10

Addressee: Home Office

[Eaton House] The Board recommends that when a new contract is negotiated with the transport contractor, the collection time is reduced from the current eight hours to five hours. (See paragraphs 8.5.4 and 8.5.5)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 11

Addressee: Other — uk_border_force

[London Heathrow Airport] The Board recommends that more officers be deployed at peak times, to avoid unnecessarily extended periods of detention in the controlled waiting areas and in the holding rooms. (See paragraphs 4.3.1 – 4.3.3; 4.3.7)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Staffing

Recommendation 12

Addressee: Other — other

[London Heathrow Airport] We repeat the recommendation that the detention contractor should ensure that DCOs use the Thebigword interpreting service for inducting non-English-speaking passengers, and not to make the assumption that passengers with a smattering of English really understand what they are being told. (See paragraph 4.2.5)

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Recommendation 13

Addressee: Other — other

[London Heathrow Airport] People who are detained frequently forget all that they have been offered during induction. We recommend that DCOs regularly re-engage with those detained, to remind them what is available and to ensure that they are reasonably comfortable. (See paragraphs 4.3.29 and 4.3.30)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 14

Addressee: Other — other

[London Heathrow Airport] We recommend that transport collection out of hours for those seeking asylum returns to the pre-pandemic timing of up to three hours for collection post-notification. (See paragraph 4.5.7)

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement