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Self-Harm in Immigration detention April/May/June 2010

John O | 31.08.2010 13:27 | Migration | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World

Overall there were only 4 incidents of serious self-harm, more than the previous quarter and only an increase of 1, on persons on formal self-harm at risk.

However there are very alarming increases at some of the individual Removal Centres.

Dover IRC showed a 125% increase on incidents of Self-Harm requiring medical treatment

Harmondsworth 54% , Oakington 46.5 %, Yarl's Wood  31% increase on previous quarter of persons on formal self-harm at risk.

There was one death, cause as yet unknown: Eliud Nguli Nyenze born 1970 - died Oakington IRC 15th April 2010
 http://tinyurl.com/23gmgrx

[Self-Harm in Immigration detention - January/February/March 2010
 http://www.freemovement.org.uk/Resources/self-harm2010.html

Data for 2009 can be accessed here:
 http://www.freemovement.org.uk/Resources/self-harm2009.html

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 'Freemovement' asked for figures on self-harm in immigration detention between April and June 2010 inclusive, under the following headings:

1) Number of individuals on formal self-harm at risk.

2) Number on incidents of self-harm requiring medical treatment.

3) Number of deaths if any.

The information requested is in the tables below.

With regards to the number of deaths, there was a death at Oakington IRC during this period which will be the subject of a Coroner's inquest and it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of this case in advance of the conclusion of the Coroner's Inquest.


Number of incidents of Self-Harm requiring medical treatment 2nd Quarter 2010

April May June 2010

Brook House 1 0 6

Campsfield House 0 0 0

Colnbrook 15 10 1

Dover 7 1 1 ( 125% increase on previous quarter)

Dungavel 0 0 0

Harmondsworth 1 0 2

Haslar 1 1 2

Lindholme 0 1 0

Oakington 2 0 2

Tinsley House 0 4 1

Yarl's Wood 1 1 0

Total 28 18 15

Subtotal 61 (57 in first quarter 2010)



Number of individuals on *ACDT (Self-harm at risk) 2nd Quarter 2010

April May June 2010
Brook House 26 19 22

Campsfield House 6 7 10

Colnbrook 28 18 29

Dover 5 5 2

Dungavel 7 5 9

Harmondsworth 17 6 14 ( 54% increase on previous quarter)

Haslar 2 2 6

Lindholme 0 1 1

Oakington 6 5 11 ( 46.5 increase on previous quarter)

Tinsley House 5 9 4

Yarl's Wood 14 11 21 ( 31% increase on previous quarter)

Total 116 88 129

Subtotal 333 (332 in first quarter 2010)


*The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has adopted the Prison Service model of self-harm reduction which replaces the Formal Self-Harm at Risk and is called Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT).

John O
- e-mail: JohnO@freemovement.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.freemovement.org.uk