Inspectors described the “worst conditions they have ever seen in immigration detention” inside a center near Heathrow in west London.
The chief inspector of prisons, Charlie Taylor, was so concerned about what he discovered during the visit in February that he wrote to the then home secretary, James Cleverly, but received no response.
The visit to Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Center revealed “chaos” that was “truly shocking”, including violence and drug taking.
There were also numerous suicide attempts by people detained there, including an attempt during the inspection of the center that resulted in “serious injuries to the detainee”.
Inspectors felt support for those who said they felt suicidal was “not good enough”.
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A report following the visit details how a shortage of prison places meant more former prisoners were being held at Harmondsworth, along with people without criminal convictions.
Assaults have doubled since the last inspection in 2017 and drug use, which is normally rare in immigration removal centers, is now “widespread”.
Inspectors could “smell cannabis” and saw detainees smoking openly in common areas without being challenged by staff who largely remained in their offices with the phrase “do not enter” posted on the doors.
Nearly two-thirds of detainees at the center, which can hold about 700 men, said they felt unsafe there.
Taylor said: “The level of chaos we encountered at Harmondsworth was truly shocking and we left deeply concerned that some of those detained there were at imminent risk of harm.
“No one should be detained in an immigration removal center unless they are quickly removed from the country, but around 60% of detainees were released from the center, with only a third deported, which raises the question of why so much money from taxpayers was being spent keeping them locked up in the first place.”
Inspectors found that the center had doubled the cells so they could house more men and the only exceptions were for those who were at risk of serious harm.
After two days, men who refused to share a room were taken to the separation unit by a team dressed in full personal protective equipment and held there until they agreed to share.
It found that Mitie Care and Custody, which runs the center, was facing a number of challenges, including a staff shortage and a “chaotic re-employment process run by the Home Office, which meant leaders had no idea whether they would still would manage the center in the coming months.”
The report concluded that the uncertainty “made it virtually impossible to recruit permanent senior staff, who could only remain in post for a few weeks”.
Taylor said the new director had “a good understanding of the many challenges” and was starting to make progress, but added that “she will need strong and consistent support at all levels to be successful.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We take the welfare and safety of people in our care very seriously and it is vital that detentions and removals are carried out with dignity and respect.
“The number of custodial officers and dedicated welfare staff at Harmondsworth IRC has increased since the inspection.”
A statement from Mitie said: “”We recognize that the conditions and standard of care during this unannounced inspection in February 2024 fell below the level we would expect at this facility. However, a number of critical factors outside of our control have impacted IRC conditions at this time.
“Working in partnership with the Home Office, significant steps have been taken to address the concerns raised by the inspectorate. It is positive to see the HMIP report recognize that improvements have already been made since February.”
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
