Prison
Cat IRC
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Brook House
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 21 May 2021
In 2020, Brook House IRC faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a contract change to Serco, and a compressed charter flight programme for Dublin Convention removals. The Board found the centre unsafe for vulnerable detainees in the latter months, marked by a dramatic increase in self-harm and suicidal ideation, and inhumane treatment of detainees due to Home Office policies. Delays in Rule 35 assessments, inadequate inductions, and issues with property and communication from the Home Office were key concerns, despite a welcome increase in staff numbers and some improvements in facilities.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomed the increase in staffing numbers following Serco taking over the contract on 21 May. Improvements were also noted in IT systems for detainees, the opening of education rooms on weekends, and the fixing of defects in rooms for detainees with disabilities. The Home Office was commended for treating age dispute cases with NRM claims as minors. A Serco social worker provided beneficial additional support to vulnerable detainees. Relationships between officers and detainees were generally positive, and Rule 40 reviews were conducted sensitively. Serco's plans to separate safer community and equality/diversity governance meetings were welcomed, as was the reintroduction of detainee consultation forums and spiritual support from the religious affairs team.
Key Concerns
Safety
Brook House was not a safe place for vulnerable detainees who had crossed the Channel in small boats.
Mental Health
A dramatic increase in levels of self-harm and suicidal ideation was observed.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Deficiencies in the induction process, which became ad hoc and inconsistent, often delivered by untrained staff, causing confusion.
Healthcare
Serious delays in access to Rule 35 assessments and increased needs for legal support.
Other
Circumstances related to the Dublin Convention charter programme amounted to inhumane treatment of the detainee population by the Home Office.
Resettlement/Release
Large numbers of detainees were detained for removal but later released, having been exposed to the harmful effects of detention.
Resettlement/Release
Some detainees granted bail were not released for a considerable time due to a lack of suitable accommodation.
Resettlement/Release
Absence of formal arrangements for briefing receiving authorities about the vulnerabilities of removed detainees, especially those on ACCTs.
Resettlement/Release
Detainees were not given advance information about what would happen to them in receiving countries if removed under the Dublin Convention.
Equality/Diversity
Interpretation services were not always readily available or of good quality, especially for Arabic and Farsi speakers.
Other
Difficulties in maintaining access to solicitors were noted.
Safety
A failure to identify vulnerabilities such as age and torture claims at an early stage.
Complaints/Property
Confiscation of mobile phones and loss of property by the Home Office or Border Force, causing distress and loss of family contact, with no effective system for recovery or contact for detainees.
Other
Poor and delayed communication from the Home Office regarding removal plans, often leading to unnecessary distress and self-harm incidents.
Healthcare
The healthcare service was over-stretched.
Safety
Apparent failures in identifying risk and vulnerabilities at different stages in the overall Home Office detention system.
Staffing
Occasional desensitised attitudes among some staff towards detainees' self-harm or food refusals, which should be challenged by management.
Segregation
Questionable pre-emptive use of Rule 40 in some instances.
Safety
An increased prevalence of use of force this year, particularly after the shift to a more vulnerable population.
Safety
Delays in informing the Board about some use of force incidents.
Safety
Absence of Home Office personnel in ACCT or constant supervision reviews.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Fewer opportunities for detainees to be consulted or engaged, such as in detainee forums.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Weak Wi-Fi signals on the wings affecting the use of translation tablets.
Complaints/Property
Concerns that the small number of complaints might reflect detainees' unfamiliarity or lack of confidence with the complaints process, especially for the new population.
Other
Repeated
Disappointment that Home Office reviews of Adults at Risk (AAR), ACCT, and Rule 35 policies and procedures, recommended in 2019, have been 'paused'.
Safety
Repeated
The Adults at Risk (AAR) system did not adequately capture an individual's level of vulnerability or deterioration, as observed in prolonged detention cases.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Serco’s takeover led to a welcome and substantial increase in staff numbers, addressing a previous key concern. While this meant a significant proportion of new or promoted officers, the Board noted no negative impact on detainee care. Staff shift pattern changes caused discontent among some staff, but this did not appear to affect detainees. The Board did note isolated instances of staff expressing desensitised views or disbelief towards self-harm and food refusals, recommending these attitudes be challenged. Serco initiated a long-term programme to develop a positive staff culture.
Healthcare
G4S Health, commissioned by NHS England, provides 24/7 medical services, with Elysium Healthcare subcontracted for secondary mental health. The service became overstretched and experienced serious delays in Rule 35 assessments from August due to the influx of vulnerable detainees with complex mental and physical health needs and often no medical records. Rule 35 GP appointment waiting times, which reached 21 days in mid-August, were reduced to five days or less by mid-November after additional provision. The Board found it puzzling that despite widespread self-harm and suicidal ideation, no Rule 35(2) reports (suspected suicidal intentions) were made, with 99.4% falling under Rule 35(3) (victim of torture).
Regime & Daily Life
The regime was heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, leading to less free association, single room occupancy, and restricted in-person visits. Inductions became ad hoc and inconsistent, often delivered by untrained staff to individual detainees, causing confusion, though a multi-language handout was later introduced. The Board noted the need for more consistent and diverse purposeful activities and vocational training. Faith services were cancelled for four months and resumed with distancing. Improvements were made to IT systems for detainees, and education rooms opened on weekends. Defects in disabled shower rooms, a long-standing issue, were finally fixed by January 2021.
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 transfers) | 4 | 18 | |
| Detention conditions | 2 | 12 | |
| Food | 4 | 14 | |
| General | 1 | 10 | |
| Immigration case work | 4 | 32 | |
| Legal | 0 | 10 | |
| Medical | 5 | 19 | |
| Other | 0 | 0 | |
| Property | 2 | 42 | |
| Staff behaviour | 17 | 44 | |
| Total | 39 | 201 |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 1
Home Office: 4
Governor / Director: 4
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 2
8 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Introduce a time limit for immigration detention.
Ministry of Justice
Detention Policy
Recommendation 2
Review systems and processes in the detention journey, to ensure that vulnerabilities such as age, modern slavery and Rule 35 torture claims are identified and assessed at earliest stages.
Home Office
Safety
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board repeats all of its recommendations from 2019 relating to reviews of adults at risk; and assessment, care in detention and teamwork (ACDT) and Rule 35 policies and processes.
Home Office
Safety
Recommendation 4
Repeated
There should be a requirement for systematic and ongoing review of vulnerable detainees, to monitor the effect of continued detention on their wellbeing.
Home Office
Healthcare
Recommendation 5
Review arrangements for the provision of suitable accommodation for detainees granted bail to reduce waiting times.
Home Office
Resettlement
Recommendation 6
Ensure that inductions for new arrivals are consistent in delivery and content, and backed up by written information in the languages of detainees in the centre.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Continue assessments for escorted visits, to see if the use of handcuffs can be reduced further.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board recognises early improvements made but is of the view that more needs to be done in the offer and consistent delivery of a wide programme of organised and purposeful activities for detainees.
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Design and deliver a range of vocational training to prepare detainees for their release.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Keep staff recruitment and retention as a priority.
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Staffing
Recommendation 11
Repeated
There should be a requirement for systematic and ongoing review of vulnerable detainees, to monitor the effect of continued detention on their wellbeing.
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare