HMIP reports on Brook House improvements

Courtesy G4S

In a comprehensive inspection of the centre carried out over three weeks in May and June this year, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke, reviewed how detainees experience four elements of the facility: safety, respect, activities, and preparation for removal and release. There were 67 detainees and 37 members of staff interviewed for the report, and 43 staff members responded to an electronic survey.

On all tests of a healthy establishment, Brook House was found to be ‘Reasonably Good’ and Mr Clarke noted there had been “distinct and positive developments” in the past two years.

Mr Clarke wrote: “It is to the credit of the leadership and staff that they have been determined to prevent any recurrence of poor behaviour or abuse, and to inject an appropriately respectful culture into the centre, supported by improved training, better supervision of staff and positive relationships with detainees."

The report found that, while there is some room for improvement, Brook House has good and effective facilities. Education was “lively, enthusiastic and engaging”, almost half of detainees were in paid work. At the time of inspection, the centre held 239 detainees.

The cultural kitchen was “valued very highly”, and had been used by more than 50 nationalities in the past year alone. Likewise, the centre’s football and cricket compounds were well used and popular and detainees had good access to internet.

“I am immensely proud of the hard work G4S staff have put into consistently creating a safe, secure and friendly atmosphere for the men at Brook House,” Phil Wragg, the centre’s director, said.

“The improvements made at Brook House reflect the commitment by us, the Home Office, and other service providers to high standards of care. We will review the relevant recommendations made in this report.”

Brook House is an immigration removal centre at Gatwick, in Sussex in southeast England, designed to manage the detention, care and welfare of adult detainees subject to immigration control. It can hold a maximum of 448 detainees. Brook House opened in March 2009 and is a purpose-built immigration removal centre, with a category B prison design.