IMB Annual Reports
768 annual reports from Independent Monitoring Boards covering 171 establishments. IMBs provide independent oversight of prisons, immigration removal centres, and secure training centres. Source: imb.org.uk.
768
Reports
171
Establishments
757
With Key Concerns
Establishment Type
Reports by Year
Key Findings
99% of IMB reports flag key concerns.
Independent monitors cover 171 establishments
across prisons, immigration removal centres and secure training centres.
Charter Flight Monitoring Team
PRISON
Concerns
The Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT) monitors and reports on the conditions for, and treatment of, people detained under immigration powers who are removed from the UK on charter flights. In 2025, the CFMT monitored operations to Albania, Romania, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and France. A significant proportion of individuals subjected to enforced removals are recognised as highly vulnerable.
Key concerns identified
bullet For the last two years, the CFMT’s reports have highlighted HOIE’s removal of people with known vulnerabilities.
bullet The CFMT observed 28 instances of UoF and noted concerns around inadequate de-escalation.
bullet Once again, as in previous years, we report that some returnees have spent excessive time on board coaches or ‘chase’ vehicles.
bullet Significant concerns were raised throughout the reporting year about inadequate interpretation.
bullet The numerous documents for each charter flight and returnee do not always make the potential vulnerabilities of individuals clear, raising concerns that escorts may not be aware that those they are looking after may have specific medical or mental health needs.
bullet The CFMT observed 28 instances of UoF and noted concerns around inadequate de-escalation.
bullet Once again, as in previous years, we report that some returnees have spent excessive time on board coaches or ‘chase’ vehicles.
bullet Significant concerns were raised throughout the reporting year about inadequate interpretation.
bullet The numerous documents for each charter flight and returnee do not always make the potential vulnerabilities of individuals clear, raising concerns that escorts may not be aware that those they are looking after may have specific medical or mental health needs.
Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT)
PRISON
Concerns
The Independent Monitoring Board's Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT) observed 12 charter operations during the reporting year, highlighting ongoing concerns about the treatment of individuals removed from the UK. Key issues include the removal of vulnerable people, the inhumane duration of in-vehicle confinement for returnees, and an increase in the use of restraint. The Board also noted improvements in interpreter provision and escort interactions but raised alarms about medical confidentiality and the reliability of interpretation assessments.
Key concerns identified
- The continued removal of highly vulnerable individuals, including those with severe mental health conditions or at risk of self-harm, often without proper authorisation.
- The consistently long periods of in-vehicle confinement for returnees, often through the night, deemed unfair and inhumane by the Board.
- Unreliable processes for identifying interpretation needs and the inconsistent provision and explanation of professional interpreting support.
- An increase in the use of restraint on returnees, coupled with concerns about the accuracy and completeness of use of force documentation.
- The potential breach of medical confidentiality due to the mass handover of returnees' prescribed medication and medical notes to receiving authorities.
- Inadequate and unsanitary toilet facilities on coaches, including lack of privacy, and the demeaning use of disposable urine bags in vans.
- The consistently long periods of in-vehicle confinement for returnees, often through the night, deemed unfair and inhumane by the Board.
- Unreliable processes for identifying interpretation needs and the inconsistent provision and explanation of professional interpreting support.
- An increase in the use of restraint on returnees, coupled with concerns about the accuracy and completeness of use of force documentation.
- The potential breach of medical confidentiality due to the mass handover of returnees' prescribed medication and medical notes to receiving authorities.
- Inadequate and unsanitary toilet facilities on coaches, including lack of privacy, and the demeaning use of disposable urine bags in vans.
Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT)
PRISON
Concerns
Self-harm: 3
The Independent Monitoring Board's Charter Flight Monitoring Team observed nine charter operations to Albania, primarily involving individuals transferred from prisons to immigration detention before removal. The report highlights significant concerns regarding the humane treatment of returnees, particularly excessive in-vehicle confinement during night operations, and issues with interpretation provision and the handling of vulnerable individuals. While positive engagement from escorts was noted, the Board raised concerns about medical confidentiality, increasing use of restraint, and some coach safety incidents.
Key concerns identified
- Unfair and inhumane treatment of returnees due to night operations and excessively long periods of confinement in vehicles, sometimes for over nine hours, to reach departure airports selected by HOIE.
- Inadequate and unreliable provision of interpreting services, with continued instances of English-speaking returnees being asked to interpret for others, despite HOIE and C&C policy.
- An increase in the use of restraint compared to the previous year, with concerns about whether its application was for the minimum time possible and inconsistencies in documentation and filming.
- Significant concerns regarding the removal of vulnerable individuals, including those with mental health issues or at risk of self-harm, and the process of their transfer and care during removal.
- Potential breaches of medical confidentiality, as medication and medical notes were handed over to Albanian authorities rather than directly to returnees.
- Safety issues with coach drivers, including erratic driving, ignoring diversion signs, and suspected fatigue.
- Inadequate and unreliable provision of interpreting services, with continued instances of English-speaking returnees being asked to interpret for others, despite HOIE and C&C policy.
- An increase in the use of restraint compared to the previous year, with concerns about whether its application was for the minimum time possible and inconsistencies in documentation and filming.
- Significant concerns regarding the removal of vulnerable individuals, including those with mental health issues or at risk of self-harm, and the process of their transfer and care during removal.
- Potential breaches of medical confidentiality, as medication and medical notes were handed over to Albanian authorities rather than directly to returnees.
- Safety issues with coach drivers, including erratic driving, ignoring diversion signs, and suspected fatigue.
Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT)
PRISON
Concerns
The IMB Charter Flight Monitoring Team (CFMT) report for 2021 found that while many returnees were treated with respect and efforts were made for infection control, significant concerns persisted regarding the fairness and humanity of the removal process. Key issues included prolonged in-vehicle confinement for returnees, inconsistent use of restraints, and communication gaps due to a lack of interpreters. The report also highlighted deficiencies in the provision of welfare items and information, especially for vulnerable individuals, and repeated recommendations on issues like distant airports and privacy on flights.
Key concerns identified
- Prolonged and inhumane confinement of returnees in vehicles during transit to distant airports, a concern repeatedly raised and unaddressed.
- Inconsistent and inappropriate application of restraints and force, including blanket use of guiding holds and waist restraint belts without individual risk assessment.
- Deficiencies in the training, welfare provision, and conduct of Rapid Response Team (RRT) escorts.
- Lack of professional interpreting services for non-English speakers, leading to significant communication gaps and a lack of understanding for returnees.
- Inconsistent recording of vital information in Person Escort Records (PERs) and the failure to consistently provide important details to returnees.
- Persistent issues including uncashable postal orders for returnees, patchy provision of compression socks, and the demeaning blanket denial of privacy when using lavatories on flights.
- Inconsistent and inappropriate application of restraints and force, including blanket use of guiding holds and waist restraint belts without individual risk assessment.
- Deficiencies in the training, welfare provision, and conduct of Rapid Response Team (RRT) escorts.
- Lack of professional interpreting services for non-English speakers, leading to significant communication gaps and a lack of understanding for returnees.
- Inconsistent recording of vital information in Person Escort Records (PERs) and the failure to consistently provide important details to returnees.
- Persistent issues including uncashable postal orders for returnees, patchy provision of compression socks, and the demeaning blanket denial of privacy when using lavatories on flights.
Charter Flight
PRISON
Concerns
The IMB Charter Flight Monitoring Team's 2020 report highlighted grave concerns regarding the inhumane treatment of vulnerable detainees, particularly Dublin Convention returnees who had recently self-harmed, with no health information shared with receiving countries. It noted unacceptably long periods of confinement in vehicles during transfers, lack of privacy during WC use, and inconsistent provision of information and support. The Board welcomed improved HOIE oversight and more consistent information provision by escorts, but reiterated several unaddressed recommendations regarding welfare and procedural fairness.
Key concerns identified
- Inhumane removal of vulnerable Dublin Convention returnees with recent self-harm, often under restraint.
- No formal process to provide receiving authorities with information about returnees' mental and physical health.
- Unacceptably long periods of confinement in vehicles during transfers, exacerbated by distant airports, without warnings or lavatory access.
- Lack of professional interpreting services, especially on the tarmac.
- Dublin Convention returnees were ill-prepared and ignorant of what to expect upon arrival.
- Inadequate video coverage of collections and incidents.
- Continued use of IRC areas unsafe under COVID-19 conditions.
- Intimidating use of riot gear by IRC staff during transfers.
- Infrequent recording of restraint reasons and continuance in Person Escort Records (PERs).
- Denial of privacy for returnees using WCs/lavatories.
- Inconsistent offer and availability of nicotine substitutes.
- No formal process to provide receiving authorities with information about returnees' mental and physical health.
- Unacceptably long periods of confinement in vehicles during transfers, exacerbated by distant airports, without warnings or lavatory access.
- Lack of professional interpreting services, especially on the tarmac.
- Dublin Convention returnees were ill-prepared and ignorant of what to expect upon arrival.
- Inadequate video coverage of collections and incidents.
- Continued use of IRC areas unsafe under COVID-19 conditions.
- Intimidating use of riot gear by IRC staff during transfers.
- Infrequent recording of restraint reasons and continuance in Person Escort Records (PERs).
- Denial of privacy for returnees using WCs/lavatories.
- Inconsistent offer and availability of nicotine substitutes.