Source · IMB Annual Report
Derwentside IRC
Year: 2023
Published: 17 Jul 2024
Type: IRC · Cat IRC for women
Population: 40
Recommendations: 17
Key concerns
Positive findings
Derwentside IRC, for women, operated at reduced capacity during 2023. The Board found it to be generally safe, with positive staff interactions and improved healthcare provision, especially mental health cover. However, significant concerns remain regarding the centre's remote location, inadequate facilities (Block 4), poor communications infrastructure, and the impact of long-term detention and frequent transfers on vulnerable women.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | 0 |
| Self-harm incidents | 13 | 7 |
| ACCT cases opened | 80 | 67 |
| Prisoner assaults | 1 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 2 | — |
| Use of force | 7 | 13 |
Positive findings
Derwentside provides a generally safe environment, with very few incidents involving violence or the use of force. Suicide and self-harm prevention processes are well-managed, and detained women have reported to the IMB that they feel well-supported by staff. Healthcare provided a good service in 2023, with increased GP access and a smooth transition to a new provider. The new contract ensures mental healthcare availability at weekends and bank holidays, addressing a previous gap. Staff also demonstrate impressive care in making travel arrangements for women released on bail.
Key concerns
Mental Health
High proportion of 'adults at risk' with mental health issues, leading to long detention periods even after release authorized, and detention maintained after Rule 35(3) reports.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The location of Derwentside and its inadequate communications infrastructure are unsuitable, leading to inhumane, unequal, and unfair treatment, including long and frequent journeys, often at night with disruptive overnight stops.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Block 4, containing important facilities like induction and care suites and a cultural kitchen, remains unopened over two years after the centre opened.
Food/Catering
Quality and variety of the food, including portion sizes, are a source of frequent dissatisfaction among women.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Deficiencies in the availability and effective use of translation services lead to social isolation for women whose first language is not English.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Indefinite periods of immigration detention are not fair or humane.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Provision for education and other purposeful activities, such as arts and crafts, reduced significantly in the second half of the year and is considered insufficient, impacting women's wellbeing.
Food/Catering
Processes for identifying and catering for food allergies are not completely failsafe, posing a risk to detained women.
Safety
Rule 42 (temporary confinement) cells are still not available for use more than two years after the centre opened.
Safety
The main reception area can be noisy and disorderly, increasing confusion and possible upset for new arrivals.
Healthcare
Women are not always made aware of Rule 35 on arrival, potentially delaying access to medical reports for vulnerable individuals.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
In the light of the issues and inequalities we have highlighted in this report, to reconsider the suitability of Derwentside as an IRC.
Repeated
Response
Not accepted. Recommendation repeated for 2023. |
Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 |
To introduce a time limit for immigration detention
Repeated
Response
Not accepted. Recommendation repeated for 2023. |
Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 |
Not to open a new immigration removal centre or other such establishment until all building work is completed and all facilities available for use
Repeated
Response
Partially accepted. Outstanding building work is not complete and facilities are still not available for use by detained women. |
Home Office | |
| 4 |
To the detention gatekeeper: not to detain women with current, or a history of, serious mental health issues
Repeated
Response
Not accepted. Recommendation repeated for 2023. |
Home Office | |
| 5 |
To establish or improve pathways with local authorities and other external agencies, including probation, to enable prompt access to housing, social support and other services, which are required to be put in place before vulnerable women leave detention
Repeated
Response
Accepted. Pathways will [therefore] be established and strengthened on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the needs of individual residents. Substantial delays in securing release accommodation still being experienced by vulnerable women. Recommendation repeated for 2023. |
Home Office | |
| 6 |
To improve the communications infrastructure for Derwentside
Repeated
Response
Accepted. Plans are in place to introduce Wi-Fi calling at Derwentside IRC. A pilot for the system is taking place at Gatwick IRC, with all infrastructure in place already. Timescales for roll out at Derwentside will be dependent on the outcomes of this pilot, but this is a priority piece of work that will proceed as soon as possible. No progress at Derwentside. Recommendation repeated for 2023. |
Home Office | |
| 7 | To increase the hourly rate for paid work for detained women. | Home Office | |
| 8 | To take steps with the escorting contractor to reduce the incidence of night-time moves into and out of Derwentside. | Home Office | |
| 9 | To reduce the number of moves experienced by detained women around the detention estate and to ensure that women understand where they are being moved to, and why. | Home Office | |
| 10 | To increase and improve the provision for, and women’s access to, education and activities. | Governor / Director | |
| 11 | To take steps to encourage and increase the uptake of paid employment. | Governor / Director | |
| 12 |
To improve communications with detained women whose first language is not English.
Repeated
Response
Partially accepted. Some improvement with the introduction of kiosks, but concerns remain around availability and use of translation tablets. No pilot of more advanced translation tablets. Recommendation repeated for 2023. |
Governor / Director | |
| 13 | To improve the quality and variety of the food served to the detained women. | Governor / Director | |
| 14 | To ensure that the processes for identifying and catering for food allergies are completely failsafe. | Governor / Director | |
| 15 | To make better use of the offices in reception to provide a quieter environment for new arrivals. | Governor / Director | |
| 16 | To ensure that all residents are made aware of rule 35 on arrival to enable access to a medical practitioner and provision of reports to case-owners as soon as possible after arrival in detention. | NHS / Healthcare Provider | |
| 17 | To take steps to reduce the incidence of night-time moves into and out of Derwentside. | Other |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Allegations of assault | 0 | 0 |
| Complaints/applications to Home Office | 0 | 0 |
| Conditions of detention/treatment | 33 | 22 |
| Food | 1 | 1 |
| Healthcare services | 4 | 2 |
| Other | 2 | 1 |
| Property | 0 | 2 |
| Removal/bail/detention/legal issues | 5 | 5 |
| Rule 34 – medical examinations | 2 | 0 |
| Rule 35 – medical reports | 1 | 0 |
| Rule 40 – removal from association | 0 | 0 |
| Total applications | 48 | 33 |
Report details
- Establishment
- Derwentside IRC
- Type
- IRC · Cat IRC for women
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 17 July 2024
- Responsible body
- Derwentside
- Recommendations
- 17
Population
| Population | 40 |
| Operational capacity | 84 |
Service providers
Escort and Transfers
Mitie Care & Custody
Healthcare (Jan-Sep)
Spectrum Community Health CIC
Healthcare (Oct-Dec)
Practice Plus Group (PPG)
IRC Operator (Jan-Aug)
Mitie Care & Custody
IRC Operator (Sep-Dec)
Serco