Immigration Detention Centre’s Health Services at ‘Breaking Point’ Amid Surging Self-Harm and Violence

Inspectors have issued a warning that health services have reached a “breaking point” due to a more than twofold increase in self-harm incidents at an immigration detention facility. At Brook House immigration removal centre, fights and assaults against staff have escalated by over five times since the inspectors’ previous visit in 2022, with assaults increasing from 14 to 80 and fights from eight to 50. Officials were informed by over a third of the approximately 330 detainees housed at Brook House, located near Gatwick Airport in West Sussex, that they had experienced suicidal feelings at the facility at some point. A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that “robust action” was underway to enhance standards throughout immigration detention facilities. The report from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons indicated that self-harm incidents had more than doubled to 12 per month since the previous inspection. Chief inspector Charlie Taylor expressed that it was a matter of “serious concern” to observe a decline in healthcare provision at the centre and noted that the service was “stretched to breaking point”. In November 2023, a man passed away in hospital following his detention at the centre, and another detainee was found deceased at Brook House in October. The Brook House Inquiry report documented 19 severe incidents of staff abuse against detainees at the centre, which came after an undercover investigation conducted by BBC Panorama in 2017. The most recent inspection, conducted from 5 to 22 August, identified a “concerning and substantial rise” in violence and self-harm, alongside a decrease in safety and respect. Inspectors commended initiatives to enhance activities at Brook House, noting an increase in available jobs and areas for physical and recreational pursuits. Welfare work was deemed good, even though the service was described as “fragile and understaffed”. A Home Office spokesperson said: “We recognise standards need to improve across immigration detention facilities, that is why we are taking robust action to improve conditions and safeguards, informed by the findings of this report.” “We are reviewing current practices around preventing violence and use of force within the site, and have introduced a programme focused on improving the overall culture, as well as a mentoring scheme for newly recruited officers.”