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.
Gatwick IRC
IRC
Concerns
Assaults: 86
Staff assaults: 180
Gatwick IRC experienced a volatile year ending March 2024, marked by high levels of violence, self-harm, and one death in custody. The Board expresses significant concerns over inadequate safeguards for vulnerable detainees, long detention periods, and systemic failures in healthcare, particularly around Rules 34 and 35. Detainees also face issues with interpretation services, excessive handcuffing, and an inhumane regime with long lock-up times and increased segregation.
Key concerns identified
- Continued volatility, high levels of violence, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, with a culture of disbelief and lack of empathy among some staff.
- Inadequate safeguards, including the Detention Gatekeeper's failure to prevent vulnerable individuals from being detained, and insufficient Rule 34/35 processes.
- Unacceptably long wait times for Rule 35 appointments and the tendency to manage vulnerability in detention rather than release, exacerbating harm.
- Unfair and inhumane practices, including detention without a time limit, widespread handcuffing during hospital visits, and systemic interpretation issues.
- Deteriorating physical conditions of Brook House and Tinsley House, marked by grimy facilities, poor ventilation, and damp.
- Excessively long lock-up times and a substantial increase in separation and segregation, often used inappropriately and restricting detainee access to support.
- Inadequate safeguards, including the Detention Gatekeeper's failure to prevent vulnerable individuals from being detained, and insufficient Rule 34/35 processes.
- Unacceptably long wait times for Rule 35 appointments and the tendency to manage vulnerability in detention rather than release, exacerbating harm.
- Unfair and inhumane practices, including detention without a time limit, widespread handcuffing during hospital visits, and systemic interpretation issues.
- Deteriorating physical conditions of Brook House and Tinsley House, marked by grimy facilities, poor ventilation, and damp.
- Excessively long lock-up times and a substantial increase in separation and segregation, often used inappropriately and restricting detainee access to support.
Gatwick IRC
IRC
Concerns
Assaults: 82
Staff assaults: 146
The Gatwick IRC experienced a deterioration in safety during 2023, marked by increased violence, assaults on staff, and a rise in use of force incidents, partly attributed to a changing detainee population. Key safeguards for vulnerable individuals, such as Rule 34 and Rule 35 assessments, were found to be insufficient or subject to unacceptable delays. The report highlighted significant concerns regarding inadequate mental health provision, unfair regime practices including prolonged lock-in times, and a lack of effective pathways for release for detainees granted bail.
Key concerns identified
- Deteriorating safety due to increased violence, assaults on staff, and poorly handled anti-social behaviour.
- Weaknesses in key safeguards: Detention Gatekeeper not robust, insufficient use of Rule 34/35 assessments, and unacceptable wait times for Rule 35 appointments.
- Inadequate mental health provision and an over-reliance on untrained officers to manage complex needs.
- Unfair and inhumane treatment including indefinite detention, increased lock-in times, blanket use of control-and-restraint, and excessive handcuffing.
- Problems with accommodation, cleanliness, and ventilation, exacerbated by pervasive smoking.
- Failure to establish effective release pathways, leading to extended detention for those granted bail, and lack of meaningful access to legal advice.
- Concerns about fairness of the complaints process and inadequate pay for work and daily allowances.
- Significant increase in illicit substances within the centres, with indications of staff involvement in supply.
- Weaknesses in key safeguards: Detention Gatekeeper not robust, insufficient use of Rule 34/35 assessments, and unacceptable wait times for Rule 35 appointments.
- Inadequate mental health provision and an over-reliance on untrained officers to manage complex needs.
- Unfair and inhumane treatment including indefinite detention, increased lock-in times, blanket use of control-and-restraint, and excessive handcuffing.
- Problems with accommodation, cleanliness, and ventilation, exacerbated by pervasive smoking.
- Failure to establish effective release pathways, leading to extended detention for those granted bail, and lack of meaningful access to legal advice.
- Concerns about fairness of the complaints process and inadequate pay for work and daily allowances.
- Significant increase in illicit substances within the centres, with indications of staff involvement in supply.
Gatwick IRC/RSTHF
IRC
Concerns
Assaults: 33
Staff assaults: 55
Gatwick IRC, comprising Brook House and Tinsley House, generally provided a safe environment in 2022 despite high rates of detainee distress and an increase in violence. The Board noted improvements in safeguarding governance, positive staff interactions, and expanded healthcare services. However, significant concerns remain regarding the detention of vulnerable individuals, ineffective Rule 35 processes, persistent issues with legal and accommodation support, and Home Office data provision.
Key concerns identified
- High rates of detainee distress, with many reporting suicidal feelings or depression.
- An increase in violence, including assaults on staff and detained men, and a rise in fights.
- Failure of the Detention Gatekeeper to prevent the detention of a significant number of men with mental health issues.
- Inappropriate and insufficient use of Rule 35, leading to continued detention of vulnerable individuals.
- Persistent barriers to meaningful legal support and substantial delays in providing suitable bail accommodation.
- A growing cohort of long-staying detainees becoming 'stuck' in the system, with a lack of proactive solutions from the Home Office.
- Significant problems in obtaining even straightforward summary data from the Home Office and, to some extent, from Serco.
- An increase in violence, including assaults on staff and detained men, and a rise in fights.
- Failure of the Detention Gatekeeper to prevent the detention of a significant number of men with mental health issues.
- Inappropriate and insufficient use of Rule 35, leading to continued detention of vulnerable individuals.
- Persistent barriers to meaningful legal support and substantial delays in providing suitable bail accommodation.
- A growing cohort of long-staying detainees becoming 'stuck' in the system, with a lack of proactive solutions from the Home Office.
- Significant problems in obtaining even straightforward summary data from the Home Office and, to some extent, from Serco.
Gatwick IRC
IRC
Concerns
The 2021 report covers the first year of the combined Gatwick IRC (Brook House and Tinsley House) under merged IMB oversight and Serco management, with the year dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, unprecedented Channel crossing arrivals through Tinsley House, and ongoing Home Office case management failures leading to prolonged and often unnecessary detention. While Serco staff generally treated detained men with respect and compassion, systemic failings in mental health support, access to legal advice, property management, and Home Office communication remained serious and in many cases repeated concerns.
Key concerns identified
• No time limit on immigration detention; one man detained for 343 days with no removal prospect
• Home Office Detention Gatekeeper failing to prevent detention of men with serious mental health needs
• Frequent involuntary wing moves due to Covid cohorting causing tension and distress
• Inadequate mobile phone reception undermining meaningful access to legal advice
• 53% of men leaving Brook House released rather than removed, raising questions about lawfulness of detention
• Complaints process not operating fairly: 13% success rate, high withdrawal rate, frontline officers as investigators
• Systemic loss of property between Dover and Tinsley House with no effective tracing system
• 51 age disputes May–December; systems not adequate to prevent children being detained
• Bail accommodation delays leaving men in detention beyond bail grant dates
• 41% of Tinsley House departures between 9pm and 7am
• Home Office Detention Gatekeeper failing to prevent detention of men with serious mental health needs
• Frequent involuntary wing moves due to Covid cohorting causing tension and distress
• Inadequate mobile phone reception undermining meaningful access to legal advice
• 53% of men leaving Brook House released rather than removed, raising questions about lawfulness of detention
• Complaints process not operating fairly: 13% success rate, high withdrawal rate, frontline officers as investigators
• Systemic loss of property between Dover and Tinsley House with no effective tracing system
• 51 age disputes May–December; systems not adequate to prevent children being detained
• Bail accommodation delays leaving men in detention beyond bail grant dates
• 41% of Tinsley House departures between 9pm and 7am