Recommendation 1
In the light of the issues and inequalities we have highlighted in this report, to reconsider the suitability of Derwentside as an IRC.
Response
Not accepted. Recommendation repeated for 2023.
Source · IMB Annual Report
Derwentside IRC
AI-generated report summary 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.
Year: 2023
Published: 17 Jul 2024
Type: IRC · Cat IRC for women
Population: 40
Recommendations: 17
Key concerns
Positive findings
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
AI-generated summaryDerwentside 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
A high proportion of the detained women are considered to be ‘adults at risk’, with mental health illnesses a common occurrence and some extremely vulnerable women remaining in detention for long periods, even after their release has been authorised, while arrangements are made for post-release accommodation and/or support. There have also been examples of detention being maintained after a rule 35 (3) report, in which a medical practitioner has attested to concerns that the woman may have been the victim of torture.
In our 2022 report, we expressed the view that the location of Derwentside, together with its inadequate communications infrastructure, was unsuitable. This led to the treatment of detained women that was, in some respects, inhumane, and, in any event, unequal and unfair compared with the treatment of detained men. We remain of this view. In 2023, we continued to observe that women were subjected to long and frequent journeys, sometimes at night, and generally with a disruptive overnight stop at Manchester Residential Short-Term Holding Facility (RSTHF) on the way (see 5.1.5).
Two years after opening, the block containing important facilities such as the induction and care suites, and the cultural kitchen, is still not open for use by the detained women.
Quality and variety of the food, including portion sizes, are a source of frequent dissatisfaction among women.
Deficiencies in the availability and effective use of translation services lead to social isolation for women whose first language is not English.
We do not consider it is either fair or humane to detain people for indefinite periods of time.
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.
11 The management of residents’ food allergies has been a matter of concern, which the IMB pursued over a number of months after hearing a resident complain she had been given a meal containing an ingredient to which she was allergic – as declared at her initial healthcare screening.
Rule 42 (temporary confinement) cells are still not available for use more than two years after the centre opened.
The main reception area can seem very busy when there is a group of new arrivals. At the same time, there may also be women preparing to leave, including tagging taking place, members of the DET team serving papers or women being prepared for escort to health appointments at local hospitals. This can sometimes give the impression of a noisy and disorderly environment, increasing the confusion and possible upset of new arrivals.
We do not know the reasons for these delays: it may be that the detained women did not want to raise these sensitive issues until they had been in detention for a while; it may be that they were not immediately made aware of rule 35.
Recommendations
Recommendation 2
To introduce a time limit for immigration detention
Response
Not accepted. Recommendation repeated for 2023.
Recommendation 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
Response
Partially accepted. Outstanding building work is not complete and facilities are still not available for use by detained women.
Recommendation 4
To the detention gatekeeper: not to detain women with current, or a history of, serious mental health issues
Response
Not accepted. Recommendation repeated for 2023.
Recommendation 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
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.
Recommendation 6
To improve the communications infrastructure for Derwentside
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.
Recommendation 7
To increase the hourly rate for paid work for detained women.
Recommendation 8
To take steps with the escorting contractor to reduce the incidence of night-time moves into and out of Derwentside.
Recommendation 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.
Recommendation 10
To increase and improve the provision for, and women’s access to, education and activities.
Recommendation 11
To take steps to encourage and increase the uptake of paid employment.
Recommendation 12
To improve communications with detained women whose first language is not English.
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.
Recommendation 13
To improve the quality and variety of the food served to the detained women.
Recommendation 14
To ensure that the processes for identifying and catering for food allergies are completely failsafe.
Recommendation 15
To make better use of the offices in reception to provide a quieter environment for new arrivals.
Recommendation 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.
Recommendation 17
To take steps to reduce the incidence of night-time moves into and out of Derwentside.
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 |
Other reports for Derwentside IRC
· Self-harm 65
· Concerns