Most short-term holding facilities held detainees safely and decently, said Peter Clarke, Chief Inspector of Prisons. Today he published a review of immigration short-term holding facilities (STHFs) across the UK.

The purpose of the review is to consider the degree of progress that has been made since the last review in 2010 and to highlight points of concern and positive practices that could be replicated. For most detainees, STHFs are their first experience of detention and many are likely to be anxious and stressed about what will happen to them next.

There are currently 37 short-term holding facilities (STHFs) across the UK, normally located at ports of entry or at immigration reporting centres. People are normally held either during investigations by immigration officers after arrival in the UK, as a staging post before removal or while awaiting transportation to a longer-term place of detention. Most STHFs are designed to hold people for just a few hours, although there are three residential facilities that can hold detainees for five days, or seven days if removal directions have been set. Three STHFs in France are run by UK detention staff under juxtaposed controls. Most STHFs hold men and women and some also hold children and families. All inspections are unannounced.

Peter Clarke said:

“Our review of short-term holding facilities published in 2010 noted significantly improved treatment of and conditions for detainees. Physical conditions had been upgraded in many STHFs and staff were largely respectful and decent. Such findings have largely been replicated in this current 2016 review which shows that, on the whole, standards have been at least maintained, and most detainees are held safely and in appropriate conditions.

“However, some facilities are not fit for purpose and some key concerns identified in the 2010 review have not been resolved. Our reports in future will focus more strongly on these recurring areas of concern.”

 

Notes to editors:    

1. Read the report.
2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
3. The short-term holding facilities inspected over the past five years which form this review are: Becket House (London), Bristol and Cardiff, Capital Building (Liverpool), Cayley House (Heathrow Airport), Coquelles/Calais (Calais, France), Longport freight shed, Dover Seaport and Frontier House (Dover & Folkestone), Drumkeen House (Belfast), Dunkerque (Dunkerque, France), Eaton House (Hounslow), Electric House (Croydon), Festival Court (Glasgow), Gatwick Airport, Glasgow Airport, Heathrow Airport, Larne House (Antrim), London City Airport, Loughborough, Lunar House (Croydon), Luton Airport, Manchester Airport, Portsmouth, Sandford House (Solihull), Stansted Airport, Vulcan House (Sheffield), Waterside Court (Leeds).
4. The Home Office awarded the contract to manage STHFs to Reliance in May 2011 and the contract was then transferred again to Tascor, which currently runs most of the UK’s STHFs.
5. Please contact Jane Parsons in HM Inspectorate of Prisons press office on 020 3681 2775 or 07880 787452 if you would like more information or to request an interview.