Sevenfold increase in serious incidents at UK immigration detention centre, report finds

There has been a sevenfold increase in serious incidents at an immigration detention centre near Gatwick airport, a watchdog report has revealed.

There were 28 serious incidents at Gatwick immigration removal centre in 2024 compared with four recorded in 2023, the report from the independent monitoring board said. These included large protests and men jumping on to anti-suicide netting. On 12 occasions the National Tactical Response Group, a specialist unit to deal with protests and other serious problems, was called in to quell disorder.

The report, published on Thursday, found that the centre was “volatile and less safe” than in previous years. The centre was formerly two adjacent sites: Brook House and Tinsley House. Brook House was the subject of an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama, which revealed serious assaults and other malpractice by G4S guards, who previously ran the centre. A public inquiry followed the Panorama revelations and made 33 recommendations for fundamental changes.

The report also revealed that 22 Serco officers were investigated over allegations of serious misconduct – 19 from Brook House and three from Tinsley House. They were referred to the Home Office’s professional standards unit for investigation. The unit deals with serious misconduct and only the most significant complaints such as allegations of assault or racism are referred to them. According to Serco sources, the complaints related to use of force with 21 unsubstantiated and one resulting in minor recommendations for changes.

The report highlights some areas of good practice by Serco officers, such as evidence of “empathy” with vulnerable detainees, and praises “some exceptional work by a Serco social worker” who helped a vulnerable man reconnect with his family.

However, it also raises a catalogue of concerns about the treatment of detainees at Gatwick. The report references the period in 2024 before the general election when dozens of asylum seekers were detained with a view to being sent to Rwanda. The scheme was cancelled after Labour came to power.

The report states: “Seventy nine people arrived over one weekend for Rwanda ‘shocked and bewildered’, according to Home Office staff.”

While immigration detention is supposed to be for only a short time before removal from the UK, the report reveals that one man was locked up for 708 days and another for more than 400 days. Five people were sectioned due to serious mental health problems and most of those detained were released rather than removed – 3,134 released and 2,165 removed.

The report states: “We continue to be disappointed that thousands of men have been subjected to the detrimental effects of detention apparently to no purpose.”

It adds: “There remain … some instances of intimidating, callous and disrespectful behaviour both to and about detained men across all organisations at Gatwick.”

A Serco spokesperson said: “We have a great team at Gatwick who carry out a challenging role with professionalism and constantly strive to improve the work we do. We are pleased to see much of this is recognised. However, many of the criticisms in this report are very out of date, are based on opinion and lack evidence.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Office reviews all incidents of use of force to ensure that techniques are used proportionately.”