Regime/Time Out of Cell
People are regularly detained for long periods in STHFs which are designed to hold people for very short periods only, with increasing numbers held for over 24 hours, and in one instance nearly 100 hours.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
STHFs lack adequate facilities for sleep or exercise, offer no privacy, and, apart from Gatwick South, no airport holding rooms provide showers.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
It is inhumane to require people to sleep on the floor, particularly as sleeping mats were removed in September 2022 and have not been replaced.
Estate/Conditions
Where responsibility for resolving problems with the maintenance and/or repair of the STHFs resides with the airport owner, there are often long delays in obtaining the necessary authority and the Board has regularly highlighted this in our monitoring reports which are shared with the Home Office and C&C.
Safety
As is noted in section 5.0, the Board is very concerned about the lack of commitment to resolving outstanding issues relating to the fabric at each of the STHFs which we monitor. We understand that delays are often attributed to the port operator who assumes responsibility for airside accommodation. It is unclear to the Board the extent to which C&C; BF and the Home Office are able to influence the port operator in this regard. As an example, it took over 12 months to address a safety trip hazard at Gatwick North, where the power cord for the spider phone in one of the interview rooms was trailing across the floor to a power socket in the common area of the STHFs. This issue was highlighted by Board members throughout the year in rota reports and was only finally resolved in November or December 2022. We have seen no evidence that the panic alarm installed in the C&C office at Gatwick North STHF has been tested. There is no panic alarm at Gatwick South STHF although it is understood that this is currently being pursued. Within the holding facility at Stansted airport, hot meals for detained persons are prepared, using a microwave oven in a very small and congested area at one end of the C&C office. In our view this area, which lacks a sink or running water is unsuitable for this purpose.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The current size and capacity of the holding rooms at Gatwick North, Luton and Stansted does not allow for multiple families or a family and other vulnerable adults detained at the same time to be cared for safely and decently when these facilities are nearing capacity.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
The needs of those with limited mobility, sight, or hearing impairment are still not being adequately addressed, and facilities are lacking in most airport holding rooms.
Resettlement/Release
On many occasions people have been bailed and have had to wait many hours, on occasion over 12 hours in the STHF before Clearsprings have been able to transport people to a safe location.
Safety
We are very concerned that the C&C offices where inductions are carried out at Gatwick South, Luton and Stansted are not suitable due to the inadequate privacy. At Luton and Stansted, the induction takes place in the detention custody officer (DCO) office area which can be accessed by BF officers and official visitors and at Gatwick South it takes place behind a curtain which provides little privacy. During the induction process, personal searches are carried out and a detained person may need to disclose very sensitive information, often using translation services again with little or no privacy.
Estate/Conditions
The holding room at Purfleet (see section 2.0) is not fit for purpose. This is acknowledged by BF and since the beginning of our monitoring, we have been assured that there is a new holding room at the port but that it is awaiting final commissioning before it can be used. The Board feels strongly that all efforts should be made to have the new holding room commissioned and put into use as soon as possible. The portacabin at Felixstowe (see section 2.0) is not fit for purpose. This is acknowledged by BF. It is in a very poor state of repair externally and is intimidating as a place to be taken to for interview. The door is covered with tape and the structure is in a dirty and dilapidated condition. Inside, the facility is clean but is very small and cramped and we feel strongly that the facilities should be replaced as soon as possible with new facilities that are fit for purpose, for example with a new portacabin similar to that at Tilbury 2.
Healthcare
There is no Aeromed cover at Lunar House and this has been a problem in the past specifically with people requiring medication. In our view the C&C officers at Lunar House should have access to the advice of healthcare professionals as at the other STHFs.
Mental Health
We are concerned that with the increasing numbers of people being detained it is not always possible for C&C officers to be aware of those with mental health difficulties who have not self-identified and we believe that this may be a potential safety issue.
Staffing
The staffing arrangement at Gatwick can result in only one member of staff being available, raising safeguarding concerns if urgent attention is needed.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
At Stansted, due to the lack of space in the C&C office, the property storage cage was removed, and property is now stored in two metal baskets, which are not secure, in a room adjacent to the office. In our view the current arrangements are generally inadequate across the STHFs and when a facility is reconfigured, a separate secure storage area for the property of detained persons should be provided ideally within view of the holding room.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Although payphones are available in holding rooms for calls, at Stansted the cash box in the BT pay phone has not been emptied for a very long time, meaning a credit card is needed to make an outgoing call.