Death of 26-year-old man reported at UK immigration detention facility

A man has passed away while being held at the Brook House migrant removal centre in West Sussex, as confirmed by the company operating the facility. Serco, the security firm, stated that a 26-year-old man died on Sunday at the site, which is situated adjacent to Gatwick Airport. The Home Office conveyed its sympathies to the man’s family and friends. Immigration removal centres accommodate various individuals, including asylum seekers, those whose right to remain in the UK has been denied, or individuals awaiting deportation after completing a criminal sentence. There is currently no statutory limit on the duration for which detainees can be held. Last year, a public inquiry into the centre revealed a harmful environment where migrants experienced degrading treatment and the improper application of force. This inquiry was initiated following a 2017 investigation by BBC Panorama, which was prompted by a whistleblower who had served as a custody officer at the centre. The inquiry’s final report documented 19 instances of mistreatment against detainees over a five-month period in 2017. These incidents included the infliction of unnecessary pain on four detainees, the use of dangerous restraint techniques, and the forced movement of detainees while they were unclothed or partially clothed. The report further indicated that detainees had been subjected to racist, homophobic, and humiliating language. The centre itself was identified as being overcrowded, unsanitary, and affected by noise from aircraft at Gatwick, alongside a prevalent use of the substance known as “Spice,” a so-called zombie drug. Serco assumed management of Brook House in 2020. In November of last year, a 37-year-old Albanian man also died while detained at Brook House. This August, a subsequent report from the Gatwick Independent Monitoring Board, responsible for overseeing the centre, identified “continuing failings.” Additionally, last month, Kate Eves, who chaired the public inquiry, disclosed that the government had agreed to implement only one of her 33 recommendations. The Home Office has previously asserted its “commitment” to enhancing immigration detention facilities. In a statement, the charity Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group likened Brook House to a correctional facility, asserting that “no-one should take their last breath there.” The group added, “We mourn that a young man died before he could be free.” Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, characterized the death as a “tragedy.” He remarked, “Brook House has gained notoriety for violence, racism and abuse,” continuing, “What part this may have in this man’s death we do not yet know, but these degradations derive from a wider failure to make a system respect human dignity and rights.” He further stated, “Tragic incidents such as this emphasise why the government must bring humanity to the immigration system as much as any other policy area – people’s lives depend on it.” A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council confirmed that the incident had been referred to the coroner, but the authority was awaiting additional details. For updates, BBC Sussex can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.