Prison
Cat IRC (Pre-Departure Accommodation)
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Gatwick pre-departure accommodation
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 11 October 2024
The IMB report for Gatwick Pre-Departure Accommodation for 2023 highlights concerns regarding the detention of four families, all of whose removal attempts failed. The Board questions the fairness and humanity of the process, particularly noting the trauma to children and callous treatment of a pregnant mother. Key recommendations include the closure of the PDA and prohibiting the detention of pregnant women.
Positive Findings
The physical conditions of the Pre-Departure Accommodation (PDA) are good, and families were treated with empathy and care by Serco and Practice Plus Group (PPG) staff. Staff efforts to soften the environment for children, including wearing casual attire, were noted positively. The PDA is spacious, child-friendly, and offers an outdoor space and kitchen facilities for families to prepare their own meals. The Board also commends the care shown in arranging accommodation and support for Family C's return home after their release.
Key Concerns
Other
The Board questions any perceived safeguarding or other value of using the PDA immediately before family removals and has concerns about the fairness and humanity of detaining families with children.
Mental Health
Use of the PDA in the removals process may actually prolong or add to trauma already experienced.
Equality/Diversity
Despite efforts to use professional interpretation, children sometimes find themselves interpreting for their parents with staff, and thereby taking on responsibilities beyond their years, resulting in unfair and unequal treatment for children.
Healthcare
The protracted and iterative nature of the Home Office decision-making process resulted in callous treatment and unnecessary suffering for a pregnant mother and unknown impact on her three young children.
Mental Health
Concerns about the impact of detention on the mental and emotional well-being of all members of the families held in the PDA as part of the family returns process, with particular concerns for the impact on the detained children.
Other
In the Board’s view, the stress and anxiety caused to Family B by their detention seemed without purpose.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The very high proportion of failed removals of families using the PDA does not suggest there are benefits which would outweigh the distress caused by its use.
Other
The Home Office excluded the IMB from a "lessons learned" review after the failed removal of Family A, despite the IMB's independent perspective being valuable for learning.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Serco and Practice Plus Group (PPG) staff working in the PDA are noted for doing a difficult job with clear empathy and care for the detained families. The Board viewed the use of matching bright and casual t-shirts or polo tops by Serco staff, rather than uniforms, as a positive step to soften the environment for children and ensure easy recognition of staff. The report otherwise provides minimal detail on staffing levels, vacancies, or morale.
Healthcare
Healthcare services at the PDA are provided by Practice Plus Group (PPG), with contracted GPs attending. Serco staff also includes social workers specifically tasked with safeguarding children. However, the Board expresses concerns regarding the significant impact of detention on the mental and emotional well-being of all family members, with particular emphasis on the detained children.
Regime & Daily Life
The PDA offers a spacious, child-friendly environment with its own outdoor space. Families have access to a kitchen and dining area, allowing them to prepare their own meals with ingredients provided by Serco, or opt for provided meals. While the physical amenities are good, the report does not detail specific daily routines, unlock hours, or purposeful activity, focusing more on the facility itself and the inherent distress of detention.
Recommendations (3)
Other: 3
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
The PDA should be closed and not be used as part of the process for family removals.
Other
(minister)
Regime
Recommendation 2
Pregnant women should not be detained in the PDA or any similar pre-departure accommodation.
Other
(minister)
Healthcare
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board repeats the recommendation since 2017 for the minister to consider the establishment of an independent system for monitoring the arrest and transfer of families.
Other
(minister)
Safety
Response
This recommendation was not accepted by the minister, on the ground that there is a sufficient amount of ‘independent monitoring already available’.