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Migrants were pepper sprayed UK immigration detention center Amid rising levels of violence and unrest, a devastating inspection report reveals.
Inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) found that incidents had increased Brook House Center hit by scamFrom four in 2023 to 28 in 2024, increasing illicit drug use and attacks on staff and other detainees.
These included several mass protests of between 25 and 40 people, and several instances of men climbing onto anti-suicide nets on wings in frustration over the slow progress of their cases.
The IMB, which oversees prisons and immigration detention, said that on at least a dozen occasions, incidents were so serious that the National Tactical Response Group – a specialist prison squad trained to respond to serious incidents – had to be called in. And on two occasions, PAVA spray, a form of synthetic pepper spray, was used on detainees.
Migrants are taken to Brook House or Tinsley House, two centres, which can house 588 men, managed by Home Office contractor Serco at Gatwick before deportation. However, the majority of men held there – 60 percent – are released back into the community rather than deported.
An investigation was launched into the management of Brook House after the 2017 undercover Panorama investigation exposed Shocking scenes of abuse against detainees.
In the report published on Thursday, inspectors criticized the Home Office for holding detainees flown to Rwanda under the former Tory government’s plan for an “unacceptable” length of time when it became clear flights would not take off. Some were detained for a month after Rishi Sunak called a general election, despite the then Prime Minister Recognizing that no flight will take off.
Home Office staff described those detained under the Rwandan scheme as “shocked and appalled”. many people were in public were arrested in their homes and taken away in handcuffsWhile the front doors of others were broken.
Inspectors said the level of violence between men and staff at Gatwick was “very worrying”, particularly at the Brook House site.
In 2024 there were 74 cases of assault among detainees at Brook House, and 86 cases across all Gatwick sites. This was up slightly from 2023 but significantly higher than the 22 incidents recorded in 2022.
The number of attacks on staff has also increased, with 180 attacks recorded – up from 146 in 2023.
Use of force also increased in 2024 with 785 incidents recorded, up from 599 a year earlier. Both of these were much higher than the levels before 2023.
The report found that the drug THC, a psychoactive compound found in cannabis and spice, also increased in detention centers. Detainees said they felt unsafe because of the use of illegal drugs at the sites, making people’s behavior unpredictable.
Inspectors warned that men with severe mental and physical impairments were being brought into custody and held there for long periods. Five people held at Brook House in 2024 had such severe mental health problems that they were isolated under the Mental Health Act.
In one shocking example, a 68-year-old man with dementia and reduced mobility was detained at Brook House. He was kept there for at least nine months, but professionals failed to express concern about his condition.
Another man who arrived in June 2023 was held at Brook House for more than 400 days, despite him having committed multiple acts of self-harm and authorities being aware that his mental health was deteriorating in custody.
By June 2024, he was spending days in the dark in his room, refusing to take medication, and eating only when food was brought to him. Upon his eventual release he had to undergo several weeks of preparation before being able to re-enter the outside world.
In another case, a youth was detained at a Tinsley house even though he said he was 16 years old. His family was able to provide documents showing that he was 16, and he was released two days later, but inspectors said they were very concerned that a young person might end up in an adult detention center.
While 2,165 people left Gatwick detention centers for deportation flights in 2024, around 3,134 people were released to remain in the UK.
The Home Office has been contacted for comment.