Appendix 4: Previous recommendations
Key recommendations relevant to immigration detention
- There have been more than 1,100 recommendations made by various reviews, investigations, non-governmental organisations and monitoring bodies relating to immigration detention since 2003. This Appendix contains key recommendations from those reports considered most relevant to this Inquiry. For the purposes of this Report, the recommendations have been grouped by the themes set out in Part D in Volume II.
The contract to run Brook House (see Chapter D.2 in Volume II)
| Recommendation | Report | Reference in this Report |
| 1. I recommend that the question of staffing levels be reviewed to assess if future contracts should contain more prescriptive requirements in relation to staff numbers. (recommendation 13, p383) | Report of the Inquiry into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre, Stephen Shaw, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, November 2004 | |
| 2. I recommend that IND [Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate] arranges for the weight of each contract monitor post to be assessed to determine both the appropriate grade of the contract monitor and the level of support he/she should have. (recommendation 54, p386) | Report of the Inquiry into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre, Stephen Shaw, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, November 2004 | |
| 3. The Home Office should increase the number of its staff who have direct operational experience in closed institutions. (recommendation 41, p114) | Assessment of Government Progress in Implementing the Report on the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, July 2018 | The 2018 Shaw follow-up report |
| 4. The current procurement environment encourages Government and suppliers to place too much emphasis on price at the expense of quality. Tendering exercises must have an appropriate quality threshold and contracting bodies need to have sufficient understanding of the market to identify bids that are too low to enable the supplier to sustainably deliver to the required standard. (para 20, p6) | Strategic Suppliers: Fifty- Eighth Report of Session 2017–19, House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, 18 July 2018 | |
| 5. Government needs to step up its skill development within departments so that contracts are specified better from the outset. (para 28, p7) | Strategic Suppliers: Fifty- Eighth Report of Session 2017–19, House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, 18 July 2018 |
The physical design and environment (see Chapter D.3 in Volume II)
| Recommendation | Report | Reference in this report |
| 6.I recommend that IND pulls together the lessons on design from the Yarl’s Wood experience (size, long corridors, siting of the control room, construction materials etc) and ensures that they underpin the production of any future footprints or alternative designs submitted by contractors. (recommendation 18, p383) | Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at Brook House IRC for Reporting Year 2017, Brook House Independent Monitoring Board, May 2018 | The 2017 IMB report |
| 7.The internet access policy should be reviewed with a view to increasing access to sites that enable detainees to pursue and support their immigration claim, to prepare for their return home, and which enable them to maximise contact with their families. This should include access to Skype and to social media sites like Facebook. (recommendation 30, p133) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), October 2018 | The 2018 Verita report |
| 8.Concerted action should be taken to soften the prison-like living conditions. Showers and toilets should be adequately screened, and toilets deep cleaned. Units should be well ventilated and detainees should have more control over access to fresh air. (recommendation S36, p18) | Assessment of Government Progress in Implementing the Report on the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, July 2018 | The 2018 Shaw follow-up report |
| 9.Legitimate websites should be accessible, including those facilitating legal assistance, Skype and social networking. There should be effective procedures for permanently unblocking such sites. (para 4.18, p47, repeated recommendation 4.26 from 2013 HMIP inspection report) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 10.The Board asks the Minister to reconsider the provision of Skype or some other form of social networking for detainees to maintain contact with their loved ones once she is satisfied with security arrangements. (p5) | Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at Brook House IRC for Reporting Year 2017, Brook House Independent Monitoring Board, May 2018 | The 2017 IMB Report |
| 11.The SMT [Senior Management Team] must design and implement as a matter of urgency purposeful and better resourced education, activities and entertainments programmes. (recommendation 17, p140) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October-11 November 2016 Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), October 2018 | The 2018 Verita report |
| 12.No immigration detention facility should be built in future with a barely screened toilet inside a shared room, and this set-up should be upgraded in all existing facilities. (recommendation 7, p20) | Assessment of Government Progress in Implementing the Report on the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, July 2018 | The 2018 Shaw follow-up report |
| 13.In future, capacity in the immigration estate should not be increased by adding extra beds to rooms designed for fewer occupants. Where this has already occurred (e.g. Campsfield House, Brook House), these extra beds should be removed, and capacity reduced or extra space created. (recommendation 8, p20) | Assessment of Government Progress in Implementing the Report on the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, July 2018 | The 2018 Shaw follow-up report |
| 14.The SMT must resolve the issue of the inadequate cleaning of the wings … (recommendation 23, p147) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), October 2018 | The 2018 Verita report |
| 15.The Home Office must take a more robust approach to ensure that Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) providers maintain adequate staffing levels and resources so that sufficient activities are available to detainees (para 57, p98) | Immigration Detention: Fourteenth Report of Session 2017–19, House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, HC 913, 21 March 2019 | The Home Affairs Select Committee 2019 report |
| 16.Introduce and consistently deliver a wider program of organised and purposeful activities. (p5) | Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at Brook House IRC for Reporting Year 2018, Brook House Independent Monitoring Board, June 2019 | |
| 17.Detainees should not be locked in cells and should be allowed free movement around the centre until later in the evening. (S46, p20) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 20 May–7 June 2019, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, September 2019 | The 2019 HMIP inspection report |
| 18.Detainees should have access to legitimate websites, including those facilitating legal assistance, Skype and social networking. There should be effective and prompt procedures for unblocking such sites. (para S52, p21) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 20 May–7 June 2019, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, September 2019 | The 2019 HMIP inspection report |
Detained people’s safety and experience (see Chapter D.4 in Volume II)
| Recommendation | Report | Reference in this Report |
| 19. I recommend that IND seeks speedily to reach agreement with the Prison Service about sharing of information with both DEPMU [Home Office Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit] and security managers in removal centres. (recommendation 63, p337) | Report of the Inquiry into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre, Stephen Shaw, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, November 2004 | |
| 20. Managers should draw up and implement a policy on drug supply reduction, including clear guidance and briefing for visits staff. (para HE.43, p16) | Report on a Full Announced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 15–19 March 2010, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, July 2010 |
| 21.Serco should monitor the numbers of time-served foreign national offenders detained at Yarl’s Wood, and the impact their presence has on the good order of the centre and the safety and security of others. Serco should consult regularly with the Home Office to ensure that only those who do not threaten good order, safety and security are detained at Yarl’s Wood. (recommendation 1, p27) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), January 2016 | |
| 22. The Home Office should examine its processes for carrying out detention reviews, including looking at training requirements, arrangements for signing off cases at a senior level, and auditing arrangements. (recommendation 60, p187) | Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, Cm 9186, January 2016 | The 2016 Shaw report |
| 23. As part of the examination of its own processes that I have proposed, I recommend that the Home Office consider if and what ways an independent element can be introduced into detention decision making. (recommendation 61, p187) | Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, Cm 9186, January 2016 | The 2016 Shaw report |
| 24. I recommend that the Home Office give further consideration to ways of strengthening the legal safeguards against excessive length of detention. (recommendation 62, p188) | Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, Cm 9186, January 2016 | The 2016 Shaw report |
| 25. The reasons for the increasing length of detention should be analysed and appropriate remedial action taken. All casework should be progressed promptly and, if that is impossible, the detainee should be released. (para S35, p18) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 26. The management of perpetrators of violence and bullying should include monitoring and challenge of poor behaviour. (para 1.18, p21) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 27. Monthly progress reports should be served on time and should contain meaningful and relevant information on progress since the last report. (para 1.79, p29) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 28. In consultation with the Legal Aid Agency, the centre should ensure adequate prompt access to legal advice. (para 1.66, p27) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 29. A drug and alcohol strategy for the centre should be established. (para 2.65, p39) | Report on an The 2016 Unannounced Inspection HMIP of Brook House inspection Immigration Removal report Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 30. All detainees should be able to access the welfare service when required. Interviews should be confidential and not interrupted by other detainees. (para 4.5, p45) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 31 October– 11 November 2016, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, March 2017 | The 2016 HMIP inspection report |
| 31. Where individuals are detained, there should be a clear limit on the length of time that they can be held in immigration detention, with a presumption that they are held for the shortest possible period. (recommendation 1, p59) | Locked Up, Locked Out: Health and Human Rights in Immigration Detention, British Medical Association, September 2017 | |
| 32. The Home Office should no longer routinely seek to remove those who were born in the UK or have been brought up here from an early age. (recommendation 33, p90) | Assessment of Government Progress in Implementing the Report on the Welfare inDetention of Vulnerable Persons, Stephen Shaw, July 2018 | The 2018 Shaw follow-up report |
| 33 | The SMT must ensure that all prison files of time-served foreign national offenders are examined for relevant security information, including risk profiles, in a timely fashion. (recommendation 29, p41) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), October 2018 | The 2018 Verita report |
| 34 | G4S and the SMT should consider with the Home Office the possibility of providing the welfare team with training in immigration processes. (recommendation 33, p37) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), October 2018 | The 2018 Verita report |
| 35 | The SMT and safeguarding team should ensure that all incidents of violence and bullying at Brook House are investigated in a timely way. (recommendation 46, p42) | Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, Ms Kate Lampard and Mr Ed Marsden (Verita), October 2018 | The 2018 Verita report |
| 36 | In line with the Joint Committee on Human Rights, we urge the Government to bring an end to indefinite immigration detention and to implement a maximum 28-day time limit with immediate effect. (para 224, p73) | Immigration Detention: Fourteenth Report of Session 2017–19, House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, HC 913, 21 March 2019 | The Home Affairs Select Committee 2019 report |
| 37 | Introduce a time limit for immigration detention. (p4) | Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at Brook House IRC for Reporting Year 2018, Brook House Independent Monitoring Board, June 2019 | |
| 38 | Information about the protected characteristics of all detainees should be systematically collected on arrival, with support offered where necessary. (para S49, p21) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 20 May–7 June 2019, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, September 2019 | The 2019 HMIP inspection report |
| 39 | Detainees should be routinely seen on arrival and before discharge to ensure that welfare matters are identified and addressed. (para S53, p21) | Report on an Unannounced Inspection of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, 20 May–7 June 2019, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, September 2019 | The 2019 HMIP inspection report |
| 40 | The Commissioner calls on the UK government to take steps to strengthen the overall asylum system, including by improving capacity to deliver quality decision-making on asylum decisions in a timely manner, by addressing shortcomings in the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers, and by establishing a clear time limit for immigration detention and by making alternatives to such detention readily available and as widely applicable as possible. (para 47, p20) | Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe – Dunja Mijatović – Report Following Her Visit to the United Kingdom from 27 June to 1 July 2022, Dunja Mijatović, November 2022 |