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Brook House Inquiry

Completed
Chair Kate Eves Legal professional (non-judge)
Established 03 Feb 2020
Final Report 19 Sep 2023
Commissioned by Home Office

The Brook House Inquiry examined mistreatment of detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre near Gatwick Airport between April and August 2017, following undercover footage broadcast by BBC Panorama. The inquiry found 19 incidents of mistreatment and made 33 recommendations.

Evidence & Impact
The Brook House Inquiry examined events at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre following undercover filming by BBC Panorama in 2017 which revealed mistreatment of detained people. The inquiry made 33 recommendations addressing oversight, conditions, safeguarding, use of force, healthcare, staffing, and complaints processes.

The government accepted 27 recommendations in principle, accepted one fully, placed two under consideration, and rejected three. The rejected recommendations concerned a 28-day detention time limit, NHS England responsibility for healthcare quality assurance, and changing the seniority of the Professional Standards Unit head.

According to a Written Parliamentary Answer in January 2025, the Home Office reported that 17 recommendations had been 'completed and closed as of October 2024', with a further five 'due for closure by end of January 2025', and 11 'on track for closure by summer 2025'. However, the evidence base for these assertions remains limited in the public domain.

Documented changes include new contractual arrangements for immigration removal centres, establishment of compliance and engagement teams, prohibition of specific restraint techniques, and a new staffing model. An interim Detention Services Order on Rule 40/42 has been published, with substantive revisions underway. The government has committed to legislative reform for Independent Monitoring Boards, though this awaits Parliamentary time.

A High Court ruling in December 2025 found the Home Secretary had failed to comply with Article 3 ECHR systems duty in Rule 35 safeguarding at Brook House between July 2023 and March 2024, noting only 20 Rule 35 reports were filed despite 260 ACDT care plans during this period. This suggests ongoing challenges in implementing safeguarding recommendations.

Many recommendations involve ongoing reviews and policy development work, including comprehensive reviews of complaints processes, Adults at Risk policy, and use of force protocols. While the government has indicated progress through ministerial statements, published evidence of completed implementation remains limited for most recommendations.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- New contracts for immigration removal centres requiring internal audit programmes and self-reporting by service providers
- Introduction of Detention Services Compliance Teams and Detention Engagement Teams in each IRC
- Quarterly Executive Oversight Boards bringing together senior Home Office officials and service provider executives
- Publication of interim Detention Services Order clarifying Rule 40 (removal from association) and Rule 42 (temporary confinement) authorisation protocols
- Prohibition communicated to all IRC staff that handcuffing behind backs whilst seated is not permitted
- Updated Detention Services Order on food and fluid refusal linking to Rule 35 process and Adults at Risk policy
- Implementation of maximum 9-hour overnight lock-in period
- New staffing model delivering nearly double the ratio of custodial staff per detained individual compared to 2017
- Introduction of mandatory code of conduct and staff engagement strategy
- Professional Standards Unit training updated to reflect Brook House Inquiry findings
Unfinished Business
- Legislative reform to provide Independent Monitoring Boards with statutory framework (commitment made in 2021 Prisons Strategy White Paper but awaiting Parliamentary time)
- Substantive revision of Detention Services Orders on Rule 40/42 (interim order published but full revision ongoing)
- Development of new Detention Services Order on use of force in consultation with experts
- Development of operational standards for use of force on detained people with mental ill health (working with HMPPS, NHS England and DHSC)
- Review of Adults at Risk policy and Detention Centre Rules 34 and 35
- Development of NHS England interim clinical guidance to support GPs on Rule 35 assessments
- Comprehensive review of complaints and whistleblowing processes
AI-generated narrative. Generated 26 Mar 2026 using claude-opus-4. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
3 years, 7 months Duration
£20m Total Cost
46 Hearing Days
24 Core Participants
100,000 Documents
Inquiry Website Terms of Reference
Government Response
Accepted 1
Accepted in Part 27
Not Accepted 3
Under Review 2
Total Recommendations 33
Data last updated: 15 Dec 2025 · Source
Data verified: 26 May 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

1 debate 19 questions 4 statements since Sep 2023
Written Question Mistreatment of Detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre Inquiry
Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour)
10 Jan 2025
Written Question Immigration: Detainees
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford (Bishops)
18 Dec 2024
Written Question Migrants: Detainees
Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour)
18 Dec 2024
Written Question Mistreatment of Detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre Inquiry
Siân Berry (Green Party)
13 Nov 2024
Written Question Immigration: Detainees
Olivia Blake (Labour)
12 Nov 2024
View all 24 mentions →
All Activity (24)
Title Volume Publication Date Tracked recs Links
The Brook House Inquiry Report Final Report 19 Sep 2023 33
01 Sep 2017
Panorama Broadcast

BBC Panorama broadcast undercover footage from Brook House IRC.

05 Nov 2019
Inquiry Announced

Home Secretary announced a statutory inquiry.

Source
05 Nov 2019
Chair Appointed

Kate Eves appointed as Chair.

13 Feb 2020
Terms of Reference Set

Inquiry to examine treatment of detainees April-August 2017.

Source
01 Nov 2021
Hearings Begin

Public hearings commenced.

19 Sep 2023
Final Report Published

Report found "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" of detainees.

Source
22 Nov 2023
Government Response

Home Office published response accepting recommendations.

Source
19 Sep 2024
One Year Progress Update

Home Office published progress update one year after report.

Clear

Recommendations (3)

7
Not Accepted
Introduce 28-day maximum time limit on detention
Recommendation

The government must introduce in legislation a maximum 28-day time limit on any individual's detention within an immigration removal centre.

Published evidence summary
- In March 2024, the government rejected this recommendation, stating that "a time limit would significantly impair the ability to remove those who have breached immigration laws and refused to leave voluntarily" (Government Response to the Brook House Inquiry, Home Office, March 2024).
- No subsequent change of position has been identified in published government documents to March 2026.
View Details
19
Not Accepted
Healthcare staff guidance and training on use of force incidents
Recommendation
The Home Office must ensure that guidance is issued to healthcare staff in immigration removal centres clarifying their role in use of force incidents. It must liaise as necessary with NHS England and any relevant medical regulators. The Home Office … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In March 2024, the government rejected this recommendation, stating that NHS England commissions healthcare services and that it is their responsibility, alongside the Care Quality Commission, to set clinical guidance for healthcare staff (Government Response to the Brook House Inquiry, Home Office, March 2024).
- Notwithstanding the March 2024 rejection, DSO 11/2025 (Use of Force for Adults in Detention), published in December 2025, requires a healthcare professional to be in attendance at all use of force incidents in immigration removal centres (Detention Services Order 11/2025, Home Office, December 2025).
- No published guidance from NHS England or the CQC specifically addressed to healthcare staff roles in IRC use of force incidents has been identified to March 2026.
Home Office (Primary)
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30
Not Accepted
Enhance Professional Standards Unit independence and seniority
Recommendation
The Home Office must: take steps to enhance the independence of the Professional Standards Unit from the Home Office and the perception of this independence; and increase the seniority of the Head of the Professional Standards Unit so that they … Read more
Published evidence summary
- In March 2024, the government rejected this recommendation, stating: "The seniority of the Head of the PSU will not be changed," and expressing confidence in existing ACAS Code of Practice compliance mechanisms (Government Response to the Brook House Inquiry, Home Office, March 2024).
- No subsequent change in the government's position has been identified in published documents to March 2026.
Home Office (Primary)
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