Prison
Cat IRC
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Yarl’s Wood
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 7 July 2023
Yarl’s Wood IRC experienced a shift to a male-only population, including a significant increase in foreign national offenders, during the reporting year. The Board noted an increase in violence, self-harm incidents, and use of force, alongside persistent challenges with staff recruitment, retention, and communication due to language barriers. While healthcare provision was largely commended, concerns remain regarding the length of detention, delays in bail releases, and the need for more comprehensive planning for release and resettlement, particularly for FNOs.
Positive Findings
Yarl’s Wood is generally a safe environment and detained persons are treated fairly and humanely. Healthcare provision by NHFT continues to be of good quality and staffing in mental healthcare has been maintained. The accuracy of information on IS91 forms has improved, and initial assessments for under 18s have decreased. Officers respond confidently to self-harm incidents, and a new multifaith room has opened. Staff demonstrate supportive and caring behaviour, and the centre has increased diversity forums and cultural events.
Key Concerns
Safety
An increase in violence, including physical and verbal altercations between residents and assaults on staff.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Increasing numbers of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) experiencing long lengths of stay without the removal process starting in prison.
Equality/Diversity
Delays in securing interpreters, leading to communication difficulties and isolation for non-English speakers.
Resettlement/Release
Detainees granted bail experiencing significant delays in release due to a lack of suitable accommodation.
Mental Health
The length of detention and uncertainty contributing to mental health issues, violence, depression, and self-harm.
Safety
Inadequate transfer of ACCT paperwork for men released into the community and insufficient mental health information from prisons.
Safety
Bullying and ethnic tensions among residents, with some feeling unsafe due to a dominant ethnic group.
Estate/Conditions
A decline in standards of cleanliness and tidiness around the centre, particularly during periods of high occupancy.
Food/Catering
Complaints about the food, reflecting cultural preferences and general frustration, and issues with food quality (e.g., mouldy bread).
Segregation
A notable increase in the use of IRC rules 40 and 42 (separation), often becoming a default option for non-compliant or aggressive behaviour stemming from frustration over case progress and length of detention.
Staffing
Staff using inappropriate vocabulary or making inappropriate comments, contributing to escalation rather than de-escalation.
Staffing
Recruitment problems impacting the Detention Engagement Team (DET) capacity to support detainees with their cases.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
RSTHF-detained men often not understanding their situation or what would happen next, particularly those arriving from the south coast.
Other
Detainees' property, especially phones, not being forwarded from police stations, causing distress and communication difficulties with relatives.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Lack of feedback and progress on individual casework, leading to consistent themes of frustration, self-harm attempts, and violent behaviours.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
An observed increase in the length of detention, with 29% of detainees staying longer than one month, and some over a year.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Shortage of Skype slots, leading to detainees having to share 30-minute contact periods.
Resettlement/Release
No specific planning for the welfare of detainees returning home beyond some funds for airport transport.
Resettlement/Release
Delays in release into the UK due to pressures on H.M. Prison and Probation Service regarding suitability checks for addresses and sponsors.
Safety
Inhumane assistance provided to a physically disabled person with two broken arms being removed to Switzerland, raising concerns about lack of support at the airport or on the plane.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Serco and the Home Office face ongoing recruitment and retention challenges, impacting the DET team's capacity. While many new staff received training in de-escalation and cultural differences, there were instances where lack of experience led to inappropriate conduct. The Board highlights the importance of maintaining a professional culture through ongoing training and review.
Healthcare
Onsite healthcare is provided by NHFT, offering daily GP and nursing appointments, with same-day availability for most of the year. Rule 35/32 medicals typically have a two-day waiting time. A medication Traka has been introduced for independent collection of IP medication. Mental health services provided 979 appointments and 178 initial assessments. The Board commends the continued high level of service by NHFT.
Regime & Daily Life
IRC-detained men are locked in rooms at night but have free access within units during the day, except mealtimes. RSTHF-detained men have free access within their unit at all times. All detainees have access to outside areas. The centre offers a gym, library, arts and crafts, IT room, classroom, cultural kitchen, and communications hub. A variety of events and activities are organised, with the cultural kitchen being particularly popular for fostering cultural connection.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation including laundry, showers | 0 | 0 | |
| Equality | 0 | 0 | |
| Escorts | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance including detained person’s centre accounts | 0 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 1 | — |
| Health including physical, mental, social care | 5 | 0 | |
| Issues relating to detained person’s immigration case, including access to legal advice | 17 | 2 | |
| Letters, faxes, visits, phones, internet access | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 4 | 1 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 0 | 0 | |
| Property within centre | 1 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity including education, paid work, training, library, other activities | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff/detained persons conduct, including bullying | 2 | 1 | |
| Use of force, removal from association | 1 | 0 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 1
Home Office: 3
Governor / Director: 2
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
Recommendation 1
Introduce a time limit for immigration detention.
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 2
Start the removal process for FNOs in prison before they are transferred from HMIP to the IRC estate.
Home Office
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Reduce length of stay by improving processes relating to asylum status and/or removal to reduce length of stay.
Home Office
Regime
Recommendation 4
Review and streamline the arrangements for the provision of suitable accommodation for detained persons granted bail to reduce waiting times (see section 7.2).
Home Office
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
The Board recommends that the culture of professional conduct and behaviour is maintained through the officers’ training, inductions and ongoing review and monitoring.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Keep staff recruitment and retention as a priority.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 7
The Board recommends that NHFT continues to maintain the excellent staffing levels and services of the last year.
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare