The Home Office has announced that the abuse at Brook House IRC in 2017 was unacceptable.
In 2019, an inquiry was started into Brook House Detention Centre (Brook House Immigration Removal Centre) in relation to the treatment of detainees in 2017.
The Brook House Inquiry identified 19 instances of mistreatment contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the chair Kate Eves, has made 33 recommendations for a more humane, compassionate and professional environment if implemented by the government, as outlined in the BHI Report.
The Home Office has today confirmed that the abuse was unacceptable. They have stated they made a number of improvements via reforms, including:
- Improved and rigorous training for all IRC staff on the use of force, with regular monitoring and reviews on staff and providers’ training
- Introducing the Home Office Detention Gatekeeper to independently assess the suitability of those referred for detention
- Case Progression Panels to consider whether continuing detention is appropriate, including independent panel members
- More Home Office staff in IRCs, and a higher ratio of provider staff to detained individuals
- Putting an immediate stop to three people occupying rooms designed for two
- Reinforcing the use of whistleblowing mechanisms
- Rigorous oversight of our contractors ensuring any complaints, incidents or use of force are properly investigated by senior managers
- Improved training and support for staff working with vulnerable people
The full Home Office statement following the publication of the Brook House Inquiry report can be found here.
This article will also be followed by a series of further articles on the Brook House Inquiry report. Stay tuned for further updates.
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