'Wholly Unacceptable' conditions for women and children

In relation to the women and children, inspectors found:

~ An incident where apparently unnecessary force had been used on children while removing a family

~ No progress in childcare or child protection arrangements; parents were worried about their children's safety in a largely adult male environment

~ Childcare and education had deteriorated, and children had limited access to fresh air

~ The small number of single women felt intimidated and rarely left their rooms

Provision at Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre, run by G4S, had deteriorated since the last inspection and arrangements for children and single women were wholly unacceptable, said Dame Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, publishing the report of an unannounced short follow-up inspection of the centre at Gatwick airport.

Since the last inspection, Tinsley House had effectively become a satellite of the new immigration removal centre at Brook House. Managers appeared to have focused on the teething problems of the new centre. Provision at Tinsley House had suffered and rules had become more restrictive, with staff and detainees noting a more prison-like culture.

In relation to the centre as a whole, they also noted:

~ Unprofessional conduct by some overseas escort contractors

~ Poor quality reception procedures

~ Some improvement in suicide prevention procedures

~ Work on diversity was under-developed

~ Access to paid work was linked to compliance with immigration, compromising legitimate appeals and breeding discontent

~ Activities and library provision had shrunk

~ There was limited provision for release, though good access to phones and the internet.

Anne Owers said: "Overall, this is a deeply depressing report. Provision across a number of areas at Tinsley House had deteriorated since our last visit. In particular, the arrangements for children and single women were now wholly unacceptable and required urgent action by G4S and UKBA. It is also disappointing that the opening of the neighbouring Brook House had not led to a more thoughtful and rational approach to the use of Tinsley House. Instead, Tinsley House has become almost an afterthought, housing some poorly cared for children and a small number of scared and isolated single women. This is more than a missed opportunity - it is a wholly unacceptable state of affairs.

HMCIP: Immigration removal centre inspections
 http://tinyurl.com/IRC-Inspections

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons