Monitor Brook House contract performance robustly
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.
- The March 2024 response stated that a Detention Services Operations Compliance and Assurance strategy had been published for 2024 onwards, with standardised monitoring schedules and quarterly executive oversight boards established with senior contractors (Government Response to the Brook House Inquiry, Home Office, March 2024).
- No independent verification of whether these monitoring arrangements are functioning effectively has been identified in published inspection or oversight reports to March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartThe 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.
Progress Timeline
Angela Eagle, Written PQ 23170 (15 January 2025): 'Completed and closed as of October 2024.'
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
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.
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."