A new watchdog report has uncovered a sevenfold rise in serious incidents at an immigration detention centre near Gatwick Airport, raising renewed concerns about safety, treatment, and oversight within the UK’s detention system.
According to the Independent Monitoring Board, Gatwick Immigration Removal Centre recorded 28 serious incidents in 2024, compared with just four in 2023. These incidents included large-scale protests and men jumping on to anti-suicide netting. On 12 occasions, the National Tactical Response Group was deployed to control disorder inside the facility.
The report described the centre as “volatile and less safe” compared with previous years. The site was previously split between Brook House and Tinsley House. Brook House became the focus of national scrutiny after a BBC Panorama investigation exposed assaults and malpractice by G4S guards, prompting a public inquiry that later issued 33 recommendations for fundamental reform.
The latest findings also revealed that 22 Serco officers faced investigation over allegations of serious misconduct. Nineteen were based at Brook House and three at Tinsley House. All were referred to the Home Office’s professional standards unit, which handles the most serious complaints, including allegations of racism or assault. Serco sources indicated that most cases related to use of force, with 21 deemed unsubstantiated and one resulting in minor recommendations.
The report acknowledged areas of good practice, noting evidence of “empathy” shown by some Serco officers toward vulnerable detainees. It also praised “some exceptional work by a Serco social worker” who helped a vulnerable man reconnect with his family.
However, the report raised significant concerns about detainee welfare, particularly during the period before the general election, when dozens of asylum seekers were detained for planned removal to Rwanda. The scheme was later cancelled after the Labour government took office. The report noted: “Seventy nine people arrived over one weekend for Rwanda ‘shocked and bewildered’, according to Home Office staff.”
Despite immigration detention being intended as a short-term measure, the report found that one man had been held for 708 days and another for more than 400. Five detainees were sectioned due to serious mental health conditions. The majority of detainees were released rather than removed, with 3,134 released and 2,165 removed.
The report stated: “We continue to be disappointed that thousands of men have been subjected to the detrimental effects of detention apparently to no purpose.” It also highlighted “some instances of intimidating, callous and disrespectful behaviour both to and about detained men across all organisations at Gatwick.”
A Serco spokesperson responded: “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 added: “The Home Office reviews all incidents of use of force to ensure that techniques are used proportionately.”
