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| Detention centre castigated over death of elderly man | Detention centre castigated over death of elderly man |
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| The chief inspector of prisons has accused the privately run immigration detention centre at Heathrow of a shocking loss of humanity after a terminally ill Canadian man was kept in handcuffs as he died in hospital. | The chief inspector of prisons has accused the privately run immigration detention centre at Heathrow of a shocking loss of humanity after a terminally ill Canadian man was kept in handcuffs as he died in hospital. |
| Staff ignored a doctor's report declaring the 84-year-old unfit for detention or deportation and in need of social care. | Staff ignored a doctor's report declaring the 84-year-old unfit for detention or deportation and in need of social care. |
| The chief inspector, Nick Hardwick, said that on at least two occasions staff at the Geo-run Harmondsworth immigration removal centre have needlessly handcuffed elderly, vulnerable and incapacitated detainees in what he called "an excessive and shocking manner". He said that the two men were so ill that one died shortly after his handcuffs were removed and the other, the 84-year-old, who has been named as Alois Dvorzac, died while still restrained. | |
| Hardwick said the security procedures at the immigration removal centre, which can hold more than 600 male detainees, lacked proportionality: "Segregation was being used excessively and was not in line with the detention centre rules. Disturbingly, a lack of intelligent individual risk assessment has meant that most detainees were handcuffed on escort." | |
| He described the use of handcuffs at Harmondsworth as "grossly excessive". | He described the use of handcuffs at Harmondsworth as "grossly excessive". |
| The chief inspector detailed cases in which detainees who had been assessed as low risk were put in handcuffs before they were taken to appointments outside the centre. He cited one case in which a detainee who was using a wheelchair following a stroke had been handcuffed on a journey to hospital for no obvious reason. | The chief inspector detailed cases in which detainees who had been assessed as low risk were put in handcuffs before they were taken to appointments outside the centre. He cited one case in which a detainee who was using a wheelchair following a stroke had been handcuffed on a journey to hospital for no obvious reason. |
| Hardwick said the first case in which a dying man was kept in handcuffs happened in November 2012. The man remained cuffed while sedated and undergoing an angioplasty procedure in hospital. The restraints were removed only seven hours before his death. The Home Office professional standards unit has since completed a critical investigation report into the case. | Hardwick said the first case in which a dying man was kept in handcuffs happened in November 2012. The man remained cuffed while sedated and undergoing an angioplasty procedure in hospital. The restraints were removed only seven hours before his death. The Home Office professional standards unit has since completed a critical investigation report into the case. |
| The prisons and probation ombudsman has launched an investigation into the death of Dvorzac, which happened last February. The chief inspector said the Canadian was considered frail and was suffering from dementia. He died while still in handcuffs having been kept in them for around five hours. They were only removed after his heart had stopped. | The prisons and probation ombudsman has launched an investigation into the death of Dvorzac, which happened last February. The chief inspector said the Canadian was considered frail and was suffering from dementia. He died while still in handcuffs having been kept in them for around five hours. They were only removed after his heart had stopped. |
| The chief inspector said Dvorzac had been refused entry at Gatwick airport on 23 January last year. After a stay in hospital, he had been detained at Harmondsworth, where, on 30 January, a doctor declared him unfit for detention or deportation and stated that he required social care. | |
| On 6 February, an attempt was made to deport him despite his caseworker acknowledging his vulnerability and lack of contacts in Britain. That was halted by another doctor, who said he was unfit to fly. | On 6 February, an attempt was made to deport him despite his caseworker acknowledging his vulnerability and lack of contacts in Britain. That was halted by another doctor, who said he was unfit to fly. |
| Two days later Dvorzac was taken to hospital in handcuffs. He died during a second visit on 10 February. | Two days later Dvorzac was taken to hospital in handcuffs. He died during a second visit on 10 February. |
| The immigration minister, Mark Harper, said: "The use of restraint in this case seems completely unjustified and must not be repeated. Clear instructions have been issued making clear that restraint should only happen where absolutely necessary." A spokesman for Geo, the contractor, responded by saying detainees were not routinely handcuffed when taken out of the centre: "However, where there is a documented risk of absconding, handcuffs may be used, balanced against a number of factors, including their age. | |
| "Managers have to use discretion to take difficult decisions and we have issued them with additional guidance," he added. | |
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