Prison
Cat IRC
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Derwentside
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 30 June 2023
This inaugural annual report for Derwentside IRC, based on weekly visits, finds the centre safe and well-run, with detainees treated humanely and with respect. However, its remote location and poor communications infrastructure contribute to unequal and sometimes inhumane treatment compared to male IRCs. Key concerns include delays in releasing vulnerable women due to accommodation issues, incomplete facilities, and a lack of mental health cover at weekends.
Positive Findings
The systems for monitoring vulnerable women and those at risk of self-harm have developed positively, with staff showing conscientiousness in the ACDT process. Interactions between staff and detained women are overwhelmingly positive and supportive, fostering a humane environment. Healthcare services, both physical and mental, are generally very good, with fully staffed teams providing empathetic care. The welfare team is active, and the arts and crafts classroom is well-attended, offering purposeful activity. The onsite DET team is visible and accessible, and support charities like Hibiscus provide valuable assistance.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
There have, however, been examples of unacceptable delays in releasing women whose vulnerabilities put them at risk of harm in detention, because of difficulties in finding suitable accommodation.
Safety
From the few instances that have occurred, we have some concerns about the governance of use of force and the ability of staff to exercise the correct techniques.
Estate/Conditions
We consider that the location of Derwentside, plus the inadequate communications infrastructure, is unsuitable and leads to treatment of detained women that is in some respects inhumane, and is in any event unequal and unfair compared with the treatment of detained men.
Estate/Conditions
The centre is not complete, however, with important facilities including the care suite not yet open.
Equality/Diversity
There could also be improvements in communications for women whose first language is not English.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
We do not consider it is either fair or humane to detain people for indefinite periods of time.
Healthcare
Our only concerns are around access, with the GP visiting only twice a week, which has an impact on the timeliness of rule 35 appointments
Mental Health
The lack of mental health cover at weekends and public holidays, which is not the same as in the male IRCs.
Other
There seems to be no mechanism for retrieving women’s property once they are detained, either at a reporting centre or from home.
Equality/Diversity
The SIM cards provided to the women on arrival do not allow calls to be made to Africa, so that women with families in Africa are unable to call them.
Equality/Diversity
Much more can be done to improve the inclusion of women who do not understand spoken and/or written English. For example, although there have been improvements in the presentation of information on noticeboards, information is still often only in English, including the EDI team’s notice to promote their drop-in sessions. The shop list and menus are available only in English.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The unreliable mobile phone reception, a problem that we have raised with the contractor and the Home Office from when the centre first opened, and which has not yet been resolved.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff numbers remained high throughout the first year, with 97 officers at year-end compared to a detainee population around 30-35. The proportion of female officers consistently exceeded 62%, and the centre manager and senior leadership team are predominantly women. While staff receive 'how to' guides for supporting women with mental health or challenging behaviour, the Board is not confident this learning is fully embedded in practice. Physical and mental healthcare teams are fully staffed, though the kitchen experienced staffing difficulties due to absences or leavers.
Healthcare
Physical and mental healthcare services at Derwentside are generally very good, provided in a bright, clean, and spacious newly-built facility. Physical healthcare is fully staffed by Spectrum, with nursing staff available 24/7 and a GP visiting twice weekly. Mental healthcare, provided by Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust, also has no staff vacancies and offers comprehensive support. However, concerns exist regarding GP access impacting Rule 35 appointment timeliness and the lack of mental health cover during weekends and public holidays, which is unequal to male IRC provision. Many women detained have significant mental health problems, which detention can exacerbate.
Regime & Daily Life
Women have free access to communal areas within residential units at all times and can leave units between 7am and 10pm. The accommodation is in good condition, clean, bright, and airy, with access to outside spaces. However, Block 4, intended for important facilities like a care suite, induction suite, cultural kitchen, salon, and shop, remains incomplete over a year after opening. Food quality has been variable, often heavy and carbohydrate-laden. While there is a well-equipped gym and organised sports activities, the gym is occasionally locked due to staff issues. Arts and crafts classes are well-attended, and 12 paid jobs are available, but take-up is low, and the pay rate remains at £1 per hour.
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 | 2 | 0 | |
| Finance including detained women’s centre accounts | 0 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 0 | |
| Health including physical, mental, social care | 0 | 0 | |
| Issues relating to immigration cases, including access to legal advice | 0 | 0 | |
| Letters, faxes, visits, phones, internet access | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 1 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 0 | 0 | |
| Property within centre | 0 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity including education, paid work, training, library, other activities | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff conduct, including bullying | 0 | 0 | |
| Use of force, removal from association | 1 | 0 |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 2
Home Office: 5
Governor / Director: 3
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
Recommendation 1
In the light of the issues and inequalities that we have highlighted in this report, to reconsider the suitability of Derwentside as an immigration removal centre.
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
To introduce a time limit for immigration detention.
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 3
Not to open a new immigration removal centre or other such establishment until all building work is completed and all facilities available for use.
Home Office
Estate
Recommendation 4
To the detention gatekeeper: not to detain women with current, or a history of, serious mental health issues.
Home Office
Mental_Health
Recommendation 5
To establish or improve pathways with local authorities and other external agencies to enable prompt access to housing, social support and other services which are required to be put in place before vulnerable women leave detention.
Home Office
Resettlement
Recommendation 6
To improve the communications infrastructure for Derwentside.
Home Office
Regime
Recommendation 7
To introduce routine pregnancy testing for women detained in residential short-term holding facilities.
Home Office
Healthcare
Recommendation 8
To ensure all staff are trained and fully confident and competent in the governance, techniques and reporting requirements around use of force and rules 40 and 42.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 9
To improve communications with detained women whose first language is not English.
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 10
To improve the management of challenging behaviour which can have an effect on the wellbeing of some women in Derwentside.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 11
To commission access to mental health services at Derwentside at weekends and over public holidays.
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Mental_Health