Prison
Cat STHF
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Kent Coast Short Term Holding Facilities (STHF)
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 3 June 2025
The IMB's annual report for Kent Coast STHF (Kent Intake Unit, Western Jet Foil, Manston, and Frontier House) highlights continuous operations processing a high volume of arrivals. While commending staff's empathetic approach and noting no self-harm or assault incidents, the Board raises significant concerns about privacy during interviews, inadequate isolation facilities, and insufficient information provided to detainees about their onward journey. It recommends improvements in communication, facility maintenance, and welfare provision for unaccompanied children.
Positive Findings
The IMB welcomed a marked improvement observed by HMIP. Operational efficiencies were boosted by a new digital photographing system, increased workstations, and a new Detainee Management System enhancing information access and staff communication. Improvements in the 'dispersing' process led to better organisation and reduced overcrowding. Staff were consistently observed to be courteous, empathetic, and attentive, particularly with families. Security was robust, supported by CCTV enhancements. Children's facilities were upgraded with new seating, toys, and entertainment. The Board appreciated the regular responses from all stakeholders to issues raised.
Key Concerns
Other
The Board is concerned that induction interviews are not held privately.
Estate/Conditions
The Board believes that the isolation units at WJF are inadequate, inappropriate and unsatisfactory. ... The third unit does not have a window and you could only get fresh air by leaving the door open.
Other
Repeated
Detained individuals still appear to be at a loss about the exact procedures. The Board finds it difficult to understand why it is not possible for them to know where they will be taken to and for how long.
Other
Unaccompanied children should not go through an initial age decision interview during night hours, unless in exceptional circumstances. This results in some individuals resting on wooden benches overnight.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board has requested, for several months, that mats should be provided for them to sleep on.
Other
The advice given to allow for resting before interview if arrivals after 10pm is revisited, as arrivals in the morning have often been many hours overnight on a small boat with no sleep and are interviewed straight away.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Work with Mitie Care & Custody teams to get repairs done promptly and quicker.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
there should be visual information on the screens instead of it just being in a written format.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The contractor liaises with Border Force to ensure that the cleaning contract for KIU, Manston marquees and Frontier House has consistent high levels of service.
Estate/Conditions
The barracks (RHR) recreational room only had 3-4 chairs, which is inadequate for 12 people.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Over several many months in the reporting year, the showers [at KIU] were prone to flooding, due to the angle of the flow towards the waste pipe, with water seeping into the induction room. Repairs were slow and inadequate, with the showers often out of use.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There were instances during the reporting year when Board members felt that the bathroom facilities should have been cleaned more than twice a day, especially when it was very busy.
Overcrowding
When the facility is busy, there is often no floor space to be seen in the marquees, with individuals sleeping in close proximity.
Safety
Some interview records suggested safeguarding issues were not sufficiently explored. Our review of cases suggested that safeguarding referrals were not always made when necessary.
Healthcare
The isolation facilities [at KIU] remained inadequate and the identified room at KIU Dover was still used as a storage area... We were told that children who were suspected of having scabies were freely mixing with others.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Interforce provides security at WJF, while Mitie Care & Custody and MTC manage other sites. Medical services are provided by Medevent, Aeromed, and CMS across the various facilities. Staff are noted for their empathetic, attentive, and caring relationships with detained individuals, including actively engaging with children. Mitie C&C staff from KIU are brought to Frontier House when needed, and Mitie C&C and MTC staff are trained in food management.
Healthcare
All four STHF sites have trained medical staff available, provided by Aeromed, Medevent, and Complementary Medical Services. WJF provides immediate medical triage and treatment for conditions like scabies and hypothermia, with diphtheria cases reportedly falling. The EMIS digital system is used for medical note-keeping, and green bands are used to identify individuals needing medical attention. While staff are vigilant in ensuring comfort and facilitating access to care, concerns were raised by HMIP and the Board about inadequate isolation facilities at KIU and children with suspected scabies mixing with others.
Regime & Daily Life
The facilities include various holding rooms and marquees, with some sites offering secure outside areas. Food, including halal options, snacks, and microwaved meals, along with water, is consistently available. Children, families, and single women are separated from men, and specific provisions like baby food and clothes are provided. Challenges include a lack of privacy during induction interviews, inadequate seating in some recreational rooms, and issues with shower flooding and cleaning frequency. Detained individuals also face a lack of clear information regarding their "process journey" and length of stay, which typically should not exceed 24 hours at Manston and 96 hours in Residential Holding Rooms.
Recommendations (10)
Other: 7
Home Office: 3
8 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board has observed that detained people are still in need of information about their ‘process journey’. We continue to note that the welfare of detained individuals has been sometimes adversely affected by their lack of understanding about where they are being taken. The Board understands that work has begun to address this issue, but we are disappointed about the length of time it is taking to solve this problem.
Other
(minister)
Fair Treatment
Response
The HO continues to monitor and progress communications and engagement with small boat arrivals. Progress continues, including the displays in holding rooms, which have been further enhanced to ensure the wordings (displayed in the top 10 languages of arrivals), are succinct and provide key process information in its simplest format, including timeframes, rights and process information. We will continue to track the most appropriate languages to be displayed, based on our arrival data and review regularly. In relation to dispersal arrangements after the screening interview, service users are advised verbally, with the use of an interpreter, of the next steps after bail. This includes onward coach transfer to (hotel) accommodation; that they have been granted immigration bail; that employment is restricted; and that they remain liable for detention (whilst on bail). Communication engagement work is currently underway to support residents who may be dispersed before screening interviews are concluded.
Recommendation 2
The Board has been informed that unaccompanied children should not go through an initial age decision interview during night hours, unless in exceptional circumstances. This results in some individuals resting on wooden benches overnight. The Board has requested, for several months, that mats should be provided for them to sleep on. The Board has also requested that the advice given to allow for resting before interview if arrivals after 10pm is revisited, as arrivals in the morning have often been many hours overnight on a small boat with no sleep and are interviewed straight away.
Other
(minister)
Child Welfare
Recommendation 3
Repeated
The Board recommends that detained people should continue not to be held at Manston for longer than 24 hours. And at the RHR facility, they should continue not be there for more than 96 hours.
Other
(minister)
Length of Detention
Response
Under the Short-Term Holding Facility Rules 2018, detained persons in holding rooms can be held for up to 24 hours, and 96 hours in residential holding rooms, unless an extension is agreed in exceptional circumstances. Border Force always ensures that the length of detention is kept to a minimum and for the shortest time possible, prioritising children and the vulnerable.
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Work with Mitie Care & Custody teams to get repairs done promptly and quicker.
Other
(minister)
Estate
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board recommends that there should be visual information on the screens instead of it just being in a written format. In addition, detained people should have access to visual aids to help them when they are being interviewed.
Home Office
Communication
Response
Pictorial references are already used to communicate basic information about the process interviewing instead of being undertaken at any given time at WJF, accompanied by written information in the most common languages. The cycle of information on the screens at WJF is limited, but the system is predicated on flow and onward travel to Manston STHF at the earliest opportunity. Home Office staff do have access to online translator services, while in-person translators are available at Manston during the immigration processing.
Recommendation 6
We recommend that children should be rested before being interviewed and that BF/HOIE does not carry out welfare interviews with children at KIU in the middle of the night. In addition, sleep mats should be provided for those who have to spend the night at WJF.
Home Office
Child Welfare
Recommendation 7
Repeated
That SBOC’s positive engagement with the Board continues and that senior personnel maintain their attendance at the monthly Board meetings.
Home Office
Board Engagement
Response
SBOC teams (and contracted custodial partners) will continue to be represented at monthly Board meetings and are committed to working collaboratively to resolve any matters relating to the provision of safe and secure services and facilities for small boat arrivals. SBOC is keen to ensure that our partnership engagement remains positive, open, and honest so we can continue to protect and safeguard people in our care.
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
We recommend that the contractor liaises with Border Force to ensure that the cleaning contract for KIU, Manston marquees and Frontier House has consistent high levels of service.
Other
(other)
Hygiene
Response
Standards of cleaning at the KIU are carefully monitored. At Manston, there are consistently high levels of service provided, with a good system in place to review when there are increased arrivals to ensure the frequency of cleaning is right. Performance is reviewed at monthly governance meetings to ensure the levels of service being provided are in keeping with contract service levels.
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
In addition, we recommend that the contractors work with Home Office/Border Force to get repairs done promptly and faster.
Other
(other)
Estate
Response
There is a process in place to ensure repairs are completed promptly, with good oversight by both the SMR and the estates team. Whilst the report refers to issues with the showers at KIU, this is not correct. The showers do not flood as a result of a fault but rather when a shower is left on.
Recommendation 10
Repeated
That your constructive engagement with the Board continues and that senior personnel maintain attendance at the monthly Board meetings.
Other
(other)
Board Engagement
Response
SBOC teams (and contracted custodial partners) will continue to be represented at monthly Board meetings and are committed to working collaboratively to resolve any matter relating to the provision of a safe and secure services and facilities for small boat arrivals. SBOC is keen to ensure that our partnership engagement remains positive, open and honest, so we can protect and safeguard people in our care and deliver suitable services.