Source · IMB Annual Report
South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Year: 2026
Published: 15 May 2026
Type: Prison · Cat IRC
Recommendations: 7
Key concerns
Positive findings
The South and East Independent Monitoring Board monitors and reports on the welfare of people in various short-term holding facilities (STHFs) in the south and east of England. The Board has monitored activity across locations throughout the reporting period. The Board continues to have concerns about safety and fair treatment of detainees.
Positive findings
The Board has observed C&C officers carrying out their duties with tact and sensitivity, especially in situations that are stressful and emotional for those in their care. Those members of staff with multi-language skills have been observed using these skills to support detained persons and other members of staff. The Board is pleased to note the continued availability of Aeromed at Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports providing 24/7 cover. The Board has noted a continued improvement in the process of transferring persons to asylum accommodation, with a very limited number of concerns raised about the Clearsprings service.
Key concerns
Overcrowding
The Board continues to be concerned about the size of the accommodation, especially at Luton Airport. Every month the Board observes people sleeping on the floor, restricting the movement of others.
Safety
The Board is very concerned about the lack of urgency to resolve problems in a timely manner, see section 5.1.13. It is doubly concerning when it involves the potential for self-harm. The Board identified in July 2025 a jagged piece of plastic white trim around a pillar at 2 Ruskin Square, which was finally resolved in January 2026.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
For the fourth year in succession, the Board draws the Home Office’s attention to the capacity issues at Luton and Stansted airports’ STHFs and the fact that the needs of those with mobility, hearing or sight impairment issues are still not being adequately addressed across all facilities.
Estate/Conditions
In the opinion of the Board, the STHF at the Port of Felixstowe does not provide a humane place for holding people. Despite Ministerial assurances over the last two years, the Board has seen no evidence that this will be resolved and with the change of ownership at the port of Felixstowe, there seems even less likelihood that this will be resolved.
Other
The Board continues to be very concerned about the lack of privacy afforded to detained persons during the initial induction at some of the STHFs or while being examined by an Aeromed health professional. This concern is reflected in the HMIP report on Immigration Reporting Centres, dated October 2025.
Food/Catering
The Board is concerned that that there were inadequate processes to cater for uncovered food. It was noted that an opened uncovered box of dates at Gatwick South was reported in November 2025, which if people sneezed or coughed near them, or handled them, could easily have spread disease.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board notes the commitment given by the Deputy Director, Immigration and Customs Custody at Border Force, to disability standards being addressed at the new facilities at Luton and Stansted. The Board is very disappointed that commitments made by the Home Office to address concerns raised in the Disability Access Review (August 2023) with the relevant port authority when a significant project was planned either did not happen or Gatwick Airport Limited dismissed the requests as they were not commercially viable. Refurbishment at Gatwick North was significant and would have been a significant cost, as noted in section 5.3.3. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | The Ministerial response in September 2024 stated that works were expected to start at Felixstowe by end of Q2 in 2024. Again, in September 2025, the Minister stated that: “There has been a delay in the commencement to Felixstowe’s renovations due to the pending approval for necessary CCTV and security works, essential to the facility’s security features which have still not been delivered on.” The Board recommends that the Minister publish a credible plan for the completion of the Felixstowe STHF or detail what alternative arrangements will be made to detain people in a humane manner. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | We are disappointed that it has taken over a year to complete the snagging at 2 Ruskin Square, and the Board recommends that the Minister ensures that there are robust project plans with clear deliverables and timescales for all future STHF projects. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 | The Board recommends that action should be taken to reduce the number of detained persons staying in airport STHFs overnight and to reduce the number of detained persons held for longer than 24 hours, as noted in 5.0. | Governor / Director | |
| 5 | The Board recommends that the Home Office review the handover to Children’s Services at Luton. The Board finds it unacceptable that social work staff are not allowed to be escorted to the STHF at Luton, whereas at other facilities social work staff are escorted to the STHF. | HMPPS | |
| 6 | The Board is disappointed that there seems to be no sense of urgency on issues raised that affect how people are fairly and humanely held. The Board recommends that realistic targets are put in place and that departments and service providers are held accountable, noting potential health and safety issues raised through the year, as noted in 5.1.13. | Governor / Director | |
| 7 | The Board recommends that areas should be provided so that C&C inductions and Aeromed assessments can be conducted with privacy to allow sensitive information to be shared confidentially. This is also noted in the recent report dated October 2025 from the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. | Governor / Director |
Other reports for South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
Report details
- Establishment
- South and East Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
- Type
- Prison · Cat IRC
- Report year
- 2026
- Published
- 15 May 2026
- Recommendations
- 7
Service providers
escort
Clearsprings Readiness Homes
healthcare professionals
Aeromed
private company that oversees immigration detention facilities
Mitie Care & Custody (C&C)