D1275

35. D1275 is an Iranian national who entered the UK in November 2012.¹ His initial asylum claim was unsuccessful and subsequent appeals were refused.²From August to December 2015, he served a prison sentence.³ While in prison, his mental health deteriorated.⁴ From December 2015 to July 2016 and from October 2016 to June 2018, D1275 was detained in immigration detention.⁵ He was detained at Brook House for 422 days and also spent significant periods in other immigration removal centres.⁶
36. While in detention, he presented with “serious and untreated mental health issues”,⁷ including exhibiting bizarre behaviour, hearing voices, and experiencing feelings of paranoia and hallucinations.⁸ In March 2018, a doctor compiled a report suggesting that D1275’s detention was perpetuating his mental health disorder, as he could not receive the support he needed.⁹ Following meetings with two psychiatrists, who said that D1275 “presents as vulnerable” and recommended that a “‘full capacity’ assessment be undertaken”, tests were carried out that indicated that D1275 had a learning disability.¹⁰An Advocacy Coordinator with Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group met D1275 and recorded that he was “unaware he was detained. Unaware he was in England”.¹¹
37. His solicitor told the Inquiry that, while at Brook House, D1275 was bullied.¹² He was used by other detained people as a guinea pig to test drugs that were brought in.¹³ A medical emergency following D1275’s use of a new psychoactive substance known as ‘spice’ in June 2017 was captured on film and broadcast on the Panorama programme.¹⁴ A Security Information Report (regarding information relevant to the safety and security of the immigration detention estate) noted the use of D1275 by others as a guinea pig “to try out the drugs that are trafficked in”, and assessed that “it appears other officers have witnessed him being mistreated but have not reported it”.¹⁵
38. D1275’s solicitor told the Inquiry that, after the Panorama programme was broadcast, D1275 spent a further 295 days in Brook House.¹⁶ He was released from immigration detention to asylum support accommodation in June 2018 without any support arrangements being in place.¹⁷ In August 2018, he was sectioned for treatment under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983, until December 2018.¹⁸ In 2019, D1275 was granted discretionary leave to remain in the UK.¹⁹

1. BHM000042_0003 para 9[↩]
2. BHM000042_0003 para 9 [↩]
3. BHM000042_0003 para 10[↩]
4. BHM000042_0003 para 10 [↩]
5. BHM000042_0003 paras 10-11; BHM000042_0005 para 16[↩]
6. BHM000042_007 para iv[↩]
7. BHM000042_0050 para 162a[↩]
8. BHM000042_0003 para 10; BHM000042_0012 para 41[↩]
9. BHM000042_0017-18 paras 58-59[↩]
10. BHM000042_0022 para 69; BHM000042_0024 para 75[↩]
11. BHM000040_0004 para 12[↩]
12. BHM000042_0016 para 56[↩]
13. BHM000042_0009 para 29[↩]
14. BHM000042_0007 para 23[↩]
15. CJS005347_0005; BHM000042_0034 paras 117-118[↩]
16. BHM000042_0050 para 161[↩]
17. BHM000042_0026 paras 84-86[↩]
18. BHM000042_0028 para 96[↩]
19. BHM000042_0031 para 108[↩]