The government has rejected a recommendation from a public inquiry to impose a maximum 28-day limit on holding migrants in removal centers, despite concerns raised about mistreatment and a toxic culture.
The proposal emerged as a key recommendation following a public inquiry into Brook House near Gatwick Airport, which was prompted by a BBC Panorama investigation in 2017.
Kate Eves, chairwoman of the inquiry, expressed unease after the Home Office released its formal response, indicating that the government had not fully embraced her findings.
Migrants (Credits: Border Report)
While the Home Office acknowledged that most of the inquiry’s recommendations had been implemented, it stood firm in rejecting the proposed time limit on detention.
The BBC’s investigation, initiated in 2016 after a custody officer at Brook House contacted Panorama, uncovered instances of abuse, self-harm, and a pervasive culture of mistreatment within the facility.
Covertly filmed footage from inside the center revealed harsh treatment, drug use, and bullying, raising serious concerns about the mental well-being of detainees.
Ms. Eves’ inquiry documented 19 incidents of mistreatment against detainees at Brook House over five months in 2017, shedding light on a toxic environment where detainees were subjected to unnecessary pain and forced to relocate while naked.
Detained Migrants (Credits: NPR)
Despite former Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s pledge to carefully consider the findings, the Home Office’s response indicated a refusal to impose a time limit on detention, citing concerns that such a measure would impede efforts to remove individuals who had violated immigration laws and refused voluntary departure from the UK.
According to the government’s stance, detention periods must align with what the Secretary of State deems reasonably necessary for the relevant immigration functions to be carried out, as outlined in the Illegal Migration Act.
The rejection of the proposed time limit on detention has sparked criticism and reignited debates over the treatment of migrants in removal centers, underscoring ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy in the UK.
