Prison
Cat STHF
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
North West and Midlands STHF
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 6 August 2024
This IMB report for Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHFs) highlights an increase in both Board membership and visits, alongside a rise in the number of people detained during 2023. Key concerns include significant safety risks for female detainees at Manchester RSTHF due to co-location with male Foreign National Offenders and a general lack of essential provisions like hot food, CCTV, and prompt access to prescribed medication in other facilities. The report also notes delays in addressing maintenance issues and reliance on external emergency services for medical needs.
Positive Findings
The Board notes a positive increase in its membership and face-to-face rota visits, demonstrating strong commitment. Detainee inductions were consistently carried out with humanity, dignity, and professionalism. The Board found no indication of mistreatment, with staff demonstrating consideration and courtesy. Additionally, a new board member has improved visit frequency to Holyhead, and the Care & Custody log book has been amended for better record-keeping.
Key Concerns
Safety
The co-location of female detainees with male Foreign National Offenders transferred directly from prisons at Manchester Residential Short-Term Holding Facility (RSTHF) poses a high safety risk, especially with women being accommodated in the male accommodation corridor when numbers exceed seven.
Safety
The East Midlands Airport holding room lacks a fitted and operational CCTV system, posing a security risk to both detainees and staff.
Safety
Holyhead Port facility lacks a secure vehicle bay for the transfer of detained people, and the main gate to the facility is only a few metres from the dock edge, protected only by a low rail, compromising safety and dignity.
Food/Catering
Detainees at East Midlands Airport have no access to hot food since July 2023.
Estate/Conditions
There are significant delays in rectifying deficiencies to the structure and equipment within all facilities, such as a prayer room light at Manchester Airport STHF taking two years to fix.
Healthcare
Repeated
Detained individuals are still being denied access to their prescribed medication while in holding rooms.
Healthcare
Most facilities (except Manchester RSTHF) rely on the NHS ambulance service for medical advice, which is an unsatisfactory situation and adds pressure to the ambulance service.
Safety
There is potential for foot ferry passengers and vehicle traffic to have sight of detainees being transferred at, or leaving, the Holyhead facility, impacting privacy and dignity.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The practice of leaving detained persons in Controlled Waiting Areas at East Midlands Airport, rather than moving them to the holding room for dignity, privacy, and comfort.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Most holding rooms are adequately staffed by DCOs, usually with a gender mix. However, the East Midlands Airport holding room relies solely on UK Border Force officers, lacking dedicated DCOs for welfare duties. DCOs at Loughborough and Solihull reporting centres operate in restrictive office spaces, limiting free space for tasks like searches.
Healthcare
A significant concern persists regarding detainees being denied access to prescribed medication in holding rooms, with the Home Office's proposed solution being slow. Only Manchester RSTHF has a full-time medical professional; other facilities rely on NHS ambulance services, adding pressure to these services. An incident at Salford highlighted this, where staff could not administer insulin, necessitating an ambulance call. One contagious disease (scarlet fever) incident occurred at Manchester RSTHF, leading to a several-day lockdown.
Regime & Daily Life
While facilities generally provide basic amenities like seating, toilets, and some entertainment, several issues impact the daily regime. East Midlands Airport lacks hot food, a TV service, and often detains individuals in less comfortable Controlled Waiting Areas rather than dedicated holding rooms. Holyhead Port and Manchester Airport holding rooms lack natural light. Delays in rectifying structural and equipment deficiencies, such as a light fixture at Manchester Airport STHF taking two years to fix, also impact the overall environment.
Recommendations (9)
Other: 3
Home Office: 5
Governor / Director: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
For the sixth year in succession, the Board repeats its concern at the lack of proper procedures which would allow DCOs or other qualified personnel to provide detained individuals with access to their prescribed medication. The Board continues to note that the welfare of detained individuals has been adversely affected by this situation. This occurs particularly in holding rooms and reporting centres. The Board understands that a process has begun to address this issue but is disappointed as to the amount of time that is being taken to solve this problem.
Other
(minister)
Healthcare
Recommendation 2
The Home Secretary visited the Liverpool Reporting Centre 8th June 2023 and very disappointedly did not visit the holding room. When this omission was questioned the Board was advised the Home Secretary was ‘very busy’. The Board, whilst appreciating how busy Ministers are, would recommend that whenever Ministerial visits are arranged to any facility in the IDE, a period is allocated to meeting, if appropriate, persons being detained.
Other
(minister)
Other
Recommendation 3
Prev. unaddressed
The Board remains very disappointed that our Annual Report of 2022 was never even acknowledged or responded to by the minister. The Board continues to be assured that its work is valuable and appreciated, but this is questionable if our detailed reports are ignored. It is therefore our recommendation that all reports are responded to in good time.
Other
(minister)
Other
Recommendation 4
The Board would recommend that to reduce this risk to as low as reasonably practicable when charter flights are arranged, the facility is ‘closed’ for detained people from the wider immigration estate.
Home Office
Safety
Recommendation 5
Hot food is not available for persons being detained at East Midlands airport (see section 2.3.2.2). The Board would recommend this is rectified.
Home Office
Food
Recommendation 6
There is no CCTV available in the holding rooms at East Midlands airport. This omission poses a high risk to both persons being detained and to members of Border Force staff (see section 2.3.2.2). The Board recommends that CCTV is fitted.
Home Office
Safety
Recommendation 7
Television for use by persons being detained is not available for persons in East Midlands airport (see section 2.3.2.2). Television can have a calming effect and distraction for persons being detained. The Board recommends that a television is fitted.
Home Office
Regime
Recommendation 8
The Board is concerned at the practice of leaving detained persons in the Controlled Waiting Areas, and recommends that they should always be afforded the dignity, privacy and relative comfort of being moved into the Holding Room where there are toilets and other facilities to help them rest while being detained (see section 2.3.2.4).
Home Office
Regime
Recommendation 9
The Board would recommend that the designation of bedroom 7 is rescinded.
Governor / Director
Safety