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UK prisons inspector seeks time limits on detention of migrants without trial UK prisons inspector seeks time limits on detention of migrants without trial
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The chief prisons inspector has called for time limits on the detention of migrants without trial after fresh warnings of a significant deterioration in conditions at a controversial immigration removal centre for women. The chief prisons inspector has called for time limits on the detention of migrants without trial after fresh warnings of a significant deterioration in conditions at an immigration removal centre for women.
Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, said the Serco-run Yarl’s Wood centre was of “national concern” after an unannounced inspection found it was failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable women.Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, said the Serco-run Yarl’s Wood centre was of “national concern” after an unannounced inspection found it was failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable women.
Inspectors discovered 99 pregnant women had been held in the Bedfordshire centre in 2014, of whom only nine were removed from the UK, despite Home Office policy stating expectant women should not normally be detained.Inspectors discovered 99 pregnant women had been held in the Bedfordshire centre in 2014, of whom only nine were removed from the UK, despite Home Office policy stating expectant women should not normally be detained.
In a damning report, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) said healthcare provided by a subsidiary of G4S had declined severely and flagged two instances where abdominal pain in early pregnancy was not treated appropriately.In a damning report, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) said healthcare provided by a subsidiary of G4S had declined severely and flagged two instances where abdominal pain in early pregnancy was not treated appropriately.
Sexual allegations continue to beset Yarl’s Wood. During the inspection one woman reported sexual contact between staff and detainees and four others claimed inappropriate sexual comments had been made by workers.Sexual allegations continue to beset Yarl’s Wood. During the inspection one woman reported sexual contact between staff and detainees and four others claimed inappropriate sexual comments had been made by workers.
Two staff were fired for engaging in sexual activity with a detainee in 2013 and a third employee was dismissed for failing to take any action when the women reported the two men after claims were made in the Observer.Two staff were fired for engaging in sexual activity with a detainee in 2013 and a third employee was dismissed for failing to take any action when the women reported the two men after claims were made in the Observer.
Inspectors said there were too few female staff at the 410-capacity centreand male nurses asked detainees intimate questions during healthcare screenings. Male staff entered bedrooms without knocking. Many of the women held at the centre are victims of abuse, rape and trafficking. Inspectors said there were too few female staff at the 410-capacity centre and male nurses asked detainees intimate questions during healthcare screenings. Male staff entered bedrooms without knocking. Many of the women held at the centre are victims of abuse, rape and trafficking.
Hardwick said the findings of the April inspection, the first undertaken since June 2013, provided support to calls to place time limits on “administrative detention”, or detention without trial.
Hardwick said the findings of the April inspection, the first undertaken since June 2013, provided support to calls to place time limits on so-called administrative detention, that is detention without trial. Inspectors questioned the validity of holding many of the detainees after discovering 894 women were released back into the UK in the six months prior to the inspection – more than double the 443 removed from the UK.
Inspectors questioned the validity of detaining many of the detainees after discovering 894 women were released back into the UK in the six months prior to the inspection – more than double the 443 removed from the UK.
In addition, at the time of the inspection, 15 detainees had been held for between six months and a year, and four for more than a year. The longest had been held for 17 months.In addition, at the time of the inspection, 15 detainees had been held for between six months and a year, and four for more than a year. The longest had been held for 17 months.
“Other well-respected bodies have recently called for time limits on administrative detention,” Hardwick said. “In my view, the rigorously evidenced concerns we have identified in this inspection provide strong support for these calls, and a strict time limit must now be introduced on the length of time that anyone can be administratively detained.“Other well-respected bodies have recently called for time limits on administrative detention,” Hardwick said. “In my view, the rigorously evidenced concerns we have identified in this inspection provide strong support for these calls, and a strict time limit must now be introduced on the length of time that anyone can be administratively detained.
“Yarl’s Wood is rightly a place of national concern,” he said.“Yarl’s Wood is rightly a place of national concern,” he said.
Related: ‘What crime have I committed to be held like this?’: inside Yarl's WoodRelated: ‘What crime have I committed to be held like this?’: inside Yarl's Wood
“We should not make the mistake of blaming most of this on the staff on the ground. While there have been instances of unacceptable individual behaviour, most staff work hard to mitigate the worst effects of detention and women told us they appreciated this.“We should not make the mistake of blaming most of this on the staff on the ground. While there have been instances of unacceptable individual behaviour, most staff work hard to mitigate the worst effects of detention and women told us they appreciated this.
“However, Yarl’s Wood is failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable women held. These are issues that need to be addressed at a policy and strategic management level.”“However, Yarl’s Wood is failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable women held. These are issues that need to be addressed at a policy and strategic management level.”
Ninety-two female detainees were interviewed in Yarl’s Wood as well as a further eight who had recently been released and 39 staff. A “disturbing” 54% of the women held told inspectors they felt depressed or suicidal when they first arrived. Ninety-two female detainees were interviewed in Yarl’s Wood as well as a further eight who had recently been released and 39 staff. A “disturbing” 54% of the detainees told inspectors they felt depressed or suicidal when they first arrived.
Inspectors witnessed a pregnant woman wait for an hour to see a GP when she experienced back and abdomen pain, dizziness, breathlessness and nausea.Inspectors witnessed a pregnant woman wait for an hour to see a GP when she experienced back and abdomen pain, dizziness, breathlessness and nausea.
She was advised to eat and drink normally and to take paracetamol for the pain when local protocol for antenatal services stated women who present with pain need immediate assessment and possible referral to an emergency ward.She was advised to eat and drink normally and to take paracetamol for the pain when local protocol for antenatal services stated women who present with pain need immediate assessment and possible referral to an emergency ward.
HMIP found use of force was well managed but inspectors were concerned about one incident in which an officer was suspended after using a defensive shield as a weapon against the legs of at least two women.HMIP found use of force was well managed but inspectors were concerned about one incident in which an officer was suspended after using a defensive shield as a weapon against the legs of at least two women.
Related: Yarl's Wood holding vulnerable women and children for too long, say monitorsRelated: Yarl's Wood holding vulnerable women and children for too long, say monitors
Natasha Walter, director of Women for Refugee Women, which co-ordinates the Set Her Free campaign to end detention of women asylum-seekers, said: “Women for Refugee Women believes that women who seek sanctuary in the UK should not be detained. Natasha Walter, the director of Women for Refugee Women, which coordinates the Set Her Free campaign to end detention of female asylum seekers, said: “Women for Refugee Women believes that women who seek sanctuary in the UK should not be detained.
“Their cases can be heard more effectively, more cheaply and with less trauma to the women involved while women are living in the community.“Their cases can be heard more effectively, more cheaply and with less trauma to the women involved while women are living in the community.
“The HMIP report gives further evidence that women seeking asylum should not be detained and that conditions in Yarl’s Wood are not suitable for vulnerable women. It is time for action and to ensure that women who seek asylum are protected rather than subjected to further trauma.”“The HMIP report gives further evidence that women seeking asylum should not be detained and that conditions in Yarl’s Wood are not suitable for vulnerable women. It is time for action and to ensure that women who seek asylum are protected rather than subjected to further trauma.”
Refugee Council chief executive Maurice Wren said: “The fact that people fleeing war and persecution are being locked away indefinitely in a civilised country is an affront to the values of liberty and compassion that we proudly regard as the cornerstones of our democracy. The Refugee Council chief executive, Maurice Wren, said: “The fact that people fleeing war and persecution are being locked away indefinitely in a civilised country is an affront to the values of liberty and compassion that we proudly regard as the cornerstones of our democracy.
“If the government wants to prove it’s serious about justice and protecting vulnerable people, ministers must urgently acknowledge that Britain’s policy of arbitrarily placing people behind bars because it’s politically expedient is wholly unjust, extremely expensive and utterly unsustainable.“If the government wants to prove it’s serious about justice and protecting vulnerable people, ministers must urgently acknowledge that Britain’s policy of arbitrarily placing people behind bars because it’s politically expedient is wholly unjust, extremely expensive and utterly unsustainable.
“It’s high time Yarl’s Wood and places like it were closed. Seeking asylum is a human right, not a crime.”“It’s high time Yarl’s Wood and places like it were closed. Seeking asylum is a human right, not a crime.”