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Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre - Serious Concerns

28 November 2006

Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, described the report on Harmondsworth, published today, as the poorest ever issued on an immigration removal centre.

Harmondsworth is the largest immigration removal centre (IRC). Over recent years, it has experienced a major disturbance and an apparently self-inflicted death. 

Inspectors found serious concerns: the centre was not performing satisfactorily against any of the Inspectorate’s tests of a healthy custodial environment.

Inspectors found poor relationships between custody officers and detainees, worse than had been seen at any other centre:

• over 60 per cent of detainees said they had felt unsafe;
• the main fear was of bullying by staff: 44 per cent of detainees, compared to only 28 per cent in other IRCs, said they had been victimised by staff; and
• detainees described some custody officers as ‘aggressive’, ‘intimidating’ and ‘unhelpful’, especially to those without English: though senior officers were better and education staff were praised.

Inspectors attributed these poor relationships in part to the centre management’s over-emphasis on physical security and control, which was out of keeping with detention centre rules. For example:

• detainees were unable to have basic possessions, such as tins, jars and nail clippers;
• their movements were strictly controlled;
• use of force was high, as was the use of temporary confinement in segregated conditions; and
• the incentive scheme operated as a punishment system, sometimes depriving detainees of basic entitlements, such as attending religious services.

Inspectors were also concerned to find systems to support detainees were underdeveloped:

• suicide and self-harm work was weak, in spite of the efforts of a committed coordinator;
• appropriate action had not been taken in response to problems identified by the inquiry into a recent self-inflicted death;
• reviews did not involve healthcare, support plans were poor and night staff had limited access to ligature cutters; and
• the complaints system was distrusted and ineffective; a third of complaints were about staff, some raising serious allegations.

Inspectors also, however, identified some pockets of good practice in the centre:

• some staff, particularly senior custody officers, interacted well with detainees,
• the work of the education and chaplaincy staff was greatly valued by detainees, though those staff felt much less valued by centre managers: and
• some healthcare provision was good, though there was insufficient nursing and mental health support.

Anne Owers said:

“This is undoubtedly the poorest report we have issued on an IRC.  Harmondsworth is not an easy place to run, and the serious disturbance it had experienced had clearly affected the confidence of managers and staff.  However, it had been allowed to slip into a culture and approach which was wholly at odds with its stated purpose, and inimical to the proper care and treatment of detainees. 

“This is not primarily the fault of staff, some of whom were trying, without adequate support, to do a good job. It is essentially a problem of management, and it is of some concern that this had not been fully identified and resolved earlier by the contractor and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.”

Notes to editors:

1. The announced inspection of Harmondsworth took place from 17 to 21 July 2006.
2. Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre holds immigration detainees, including asylum seekers, whose applications are being considered under fast-track procedures. Originally holding families as well as single men and women, at the time of inspection Harmondsworth held single male adults only.
3. Inspectorate reports and releases are available at http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons (new window).
4. Anne Owers has limited time available for interviews. For an electronic copy of the report or to request an interview with Anne Owers, please telephone 020 7035 3850 or 020 7035 3852.
   

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