1 Response Accepted in Part Self-assessed

Monitor Brook House contract performance robustly

Recommendation

The Home Office must actively and robustly monitor the performance of the Brook House contract, including satisfying itself that any self-reported information is accurate. This may include engagement with monitoring bodies and appropriate stakeholders. Penalties must be attached to inadequate self-reporting.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
The Home Office has introduced new contracts requiring internal audit programmes and self-reporting by service providers, supported by Detention Services Compliance Teams and Detention Engagement Teams within each Immigration Removal Centre (Govt response, March 2024). Quarterly Executive Oversight Boards have also been established to address unresolved issues between senior Home Office officials and service provider executives (Govt response, March 2024). While a Written Parliamentary Question in January 2025 stated the recommendation was completed as of October 2024, HM Inspectorate of Prisons reported in September 2025 that although oversight mechanisms were functioning, more work was needed, and the Inquiry Chair described the government's overall response as "inadequate" in September 2024.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 24 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part Home Office
19 Mar 2024

The Home Office has introduced new contracts requiring internal audit programmes and self-reporting by service providers. Two Home Office teams operate in each IRC: detention services compliance teams for on-site contract monitoring, and Detention Engagement Teams for detainee interaction. Quarterly Executive Oversight Boards bring together senior Home Office officials and service provider executives to escalate unresolved issues.

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Progress Timeline
Parliamentary Answer
14 Jan 2025

Angela Eagle, Written PQ 23170 (15 January 2025): 'Completed and closed as of October 2024.'

Source
Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Reasonable Progress
03 Sep 2025
HM Inspectorate of Prisons Inspection Report

Active Home Office team increased contact and communication with detainees. Oversight mechanisms functioning but more work needed.

View detailed findings

Based on Independent Review of Progress visit in August 2025, following up 13 concerns from August 2024 inspection. Brook House run by Serco held 192 detainees at time of visit.

Report on an independent review of progress at Br… View Source
Insufficient Progress
19 Sep 2024
Brook House Inquiry Chair Other

Inquiry Chair Kate Eves described government response as "inadequate" and called for a "reset" with the new government. Warned abuse "becomes a question of when, not if" it happens again.

View detailed findings

In September 2024, Kate Eves told Channel 4 News she was "disappointed with what I see as an inadequate response by the former government to an important report." She noted the inquiry cost about £20 million over four years. Home Office lawyers had argued her "recommendations are not binding."

Channel 4 News interview, September 2024
Source
Inquiry Brook House Inquiry
Report The Brook House Inquiry Report 19 Sep 2023
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Home Office Primary
Themes & Tags
Poor prevention and early intervention Contract Oversight Monitoring
Recommendation age 2.5 yrs
Last formal update 434 days ago