Strengthen Independent Monitoring Board statutory footing and responsiveness
The government must: respond to and publish responses to all concerns raised by any Independent Monitoring Board regarding immigration removal centres; take steps without further delay to amend the Detention Centre Rules 2001, in so far as they govern Independent Monitoring Boards, in order to accurately reflect their current role; and consider whether to put the National Chair and Management Board of the Independent Monitoring Boards on a statutory footing.
- No legislation amending the statutory position of Independent Monitoring Boards in immigration removal centres has been identified in Acts passed between March 2024 and March 2026, including the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.
- No further published government update on the timeline for IMB legislation has been identified to March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartThe Ministry of Justice has committed in the 2021 Prisons Strategy White Paper to pursue legislative reform to provide Independent Monitoring Boards with a statutory framework, intending to legislate 'as soon as Parliamentary time allows'.
Progress Timeline
Angela Eagle, Written PQ 23170 (15 January 2025): 'On track for closure by summer 2025.'
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.
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."