Inspection finds Colnbrook is well led, with reasonably good outcomes for detainees, but ongoing challenges need immediate attention
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) earlier this month published a new inspection report of Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) near Heathrow airport.
Image credit: WikipediaThe 65-page report can be downloaded here.
Colnbrook IRC is run by the contractor Mitie Care and Custody and has been in operation since 2004. It holds up to 339 adult men in seven residential units and one separation unit.
Overall, HMI Prisons' inspection report finds that Colnbrook continues to be well led, with reasonably good outcomes for detainees, but faces ongoing challenges that demand urgent attention. The inspection praised the calm atmosphere at the centre, increased staff numbers, and improved access to education and activities. Notably, detainees now benefit from a broader curriculum, enhanced welfare provision, and a more effective Detention Engagement Team, reflecting efforts to improve day-to-day life for those held at the facility.
However, the report also highlights several serious shortcomings. Safeguarding procedures were inconsistent, and the Rule 35 process - which is designed to protect vulnerable detainees - was still underused, particularly for individuals at risk of self-harm. Levels of vulnerability among detainees were high, yet in several cases, decisions to detain were made without fully considering serious mental health issues, disabilities, or barriers to removal. Some individuals were held despite being assessed as unfit for detention by healthcare staff upon arrival.
While new systems ensured that staff were informed about those identified as at risk by external casework teams, HMI Prisons found frontline staff often lacked the training or confidence to respond appropriately. Worryingly, some reports required under Rule 35 were not submitted even in cases involving suicidal ideation or acute mental health crises. Inadequate follow-up by the Home Office on serious health concerns further weakened the safeguarding framework. A shortage of staff at the IRC meant that detainees waited too long for mental health support, including assessments and psychological interventions.
The suicide of a detainee since HMI Prisons' last inspection in 2022 underscored the urgency of more robust mental health services and safeguarding protocols.
The report notes: "There had been 73 acts of self-harm in the previous six months, involving 45 detainees, three of which were near misses. Investigations had been conducted into each of these, but they focused too much on the immediate circumstances rather than fully considering the lead up to incidents to identify all possible learning. […] In our survey, 35% of detainees said they had felt suicidal at some time in the centre. In our interviews, detainees variously reported stress, depression, anxiety and, in some cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Wing staff were not well enough equipped to care for the number of detainees with significant mental health need, and it was welcome that mental health awareness training was due to start shortly after the inspection."
Inspectors also found the continuing presence of illicit drugs was major concern, with detection efforts and staff searches not keeping pace with the scale of the problem.
The physical state of the centre remained another significant issue. Much of the infrastructure is in disrepair, with poor ventilation, a lack of natural light, and broken bathroom facilities all taking a toll on detainee well-being. Leaders have committed to substantial upgrades, but HMI Prisons' inspection found the ageing, prison-like environment continued to affect daily life.
Other concerns include the limited availability of bail accommodation leading to unnecessarily prolonged detention, weak data collection for driving improvement, poor handling of complaints, and inadequate support for detainees being released, 24 of whom were discharged homeless in the past year.
HMI Prisons stated: "Too many people had been detained for lengthy periods: 56% had been detained for more than a month at the time of the inspection and the cumulative average length of detention was 67 days. Two people had been held for more than a year and the longest detention was for 741 days, which was unacceptable. This was particularly poor given that half of those leaving the centre in the last six months had been released into the community and only 40% had been removed, with the remaining 10% being transferred to other centres. More than half of those released had been by decision of an immigration judge."
Many detainees at Colnbrook faced prolonged periods in detention due to slow case progression, vague timelines for removal, and delays in securing travel documents or release accommodation. In several cases examined by HMI Prisons, the Home Office estimated it would take over six months to arrange removal, sometimes to countries with no functioning readmission agreements, raising serious concerns about the lawfulness and necessity of continued detention.
The provision of legal advice was unsatisfactory, with the report noting: "Detainees had prompt access to 30 minutes of publicly funded advice under the Detained Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS). DDAS surgeries took place on weekdays, but almost all were conducted over the telephone, which was not popular with detainees. Only 45% of detainees in our survey said they had received free legal advice in Colnbrook and only 52% of those who had an immigration lawyer said it was easy to contact them, with just 20% receiving a legal visit. Detainees experienced problems with the quality of the legal support they received. Welfare staff told us that DDAS solicitors often did not use an interpreter for consultations, that it could take too long – sometimes weeks – for solicitors to confirm that they were taking on a detainee's case, and some were difficult to contact by telephone. Welfare staff were aware of the process to report concerns about DDAS representatives to the Legal Aid Agency but said they rarely did so, which was a missed opportunity to drive improvements."
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, commented in the report's introduction that while positive changes are underway at Colnbrook and there is clear enthusiasm among staff, persistent issues continue to undermine progress, particularly around safeguarding, inexperience, and aspects of detainee welfare.