29 Response Accepted in Part Self-assessed

Improve Professional Standards Unit investigation procedures and training

Recommendation

The Home Office must update Detention Services Order 03/2015: Handling of Complaints to clarify that, in investigations carried out by the Professional Standards Unit into allegations of serious misconduct against contractor staff: Professional Standards Unit investigators must carry out interviews themselves and not rely on contractors to do so. All staff against whom allegations are made must be invited to interview. Where there are inconsistencies between any accounts given of events, any evidence relating to those accounts (including footage and documentation) obtained by an investigating officer must be shown to the complainant and to the subject of the complaint, prior to reaching a conclusion. The Professional Standards Unit must be given information about previous complaints made against alleged perpetrators, including unsubstantiated complaints. Previous disciplinary action against alleged perpetrators must be taken into account. Investigators must look for evidence that is both supportive and undermining of the complaint. Full reports must be sent to complainants (and their solicitors if applicable). Investigation reports and/or outcome letters must be sent directly from the PSU to complainants (and their solicitors if applicable). The Home Office Professional Standards Unit must ensure that training about the updated guidance takes place on a regular (at least annual) basis for staff dealing with investigations, as well as those responsible for managing them. The training must be subject to an assessment. The Professional Standards Unit must also review the training provided to investigators and ensure that investigators receive regular and adequate training, from a variety of perspectives, on issues including: the nature of immigration removal centres and issues that may arise; obstacles that detained people may face in making complaints; interviewing vulnerable witnesses; and use of force and assessing reasonableness of force.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
The Home Office stated in March 2024 that its Professional Standards Unit (PSU) updated its training to reflect Brook House Inquiry findings, specifically including training in interviewing vulnerable witnesses, and embedded a use of force expert. A Written Parliamentary Question in January 2025 indicated the recommendation was "due for closure by end of January 2025," and the government tracker marks it as "Completed." However, the Brook House Inquiry Chair, Kate Eves, described the government's response as "inadequate" in September 2024, warning that abuse would recur.
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 Professional Standards Unit has updated its training to reflect Brook House Inquiry findings, including training in interviewing vulnerable witnesses. An embedded use of force expert has been added.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Parliamentary Answer
14 Jan 2025

Angela Eagle, Written PQ 23170 (15 January 2025): 'Due for closure by end of January 2025.'

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.

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
Report The Brook House Inquiry Report 19 Sep 2023
Responsible Bodies
Home Office Primary
Recommendation age 2.5 yrs
Last formal update 434 days ago