Prison inspectors label Gatwick Airport detention centre unacceptable

Dame Anne Owers, the prisons chief inspector, has labelled Gatwick Airport’s Tinsley House immigration removal centre as deeply depressing. Her statements came following her first visit to the site since 2007 with claims that the facility has deteriorated significantly, notably for women and children. Calls for urgent action to address critical issues have been made by the prison inspectors team.

The issue of forced detention for children and women has been under the public spotlight of late with the Labour government claiming that deaths would occur if some children were not locked up and leaders at the COP15 reaffirming a commitment to greater protection of women worldwide.

Owers argued that the much maligned Tinsley House site was populated by increasingly terrified single women and children that obviously were poorly cared for. Implications were made that the centres mostly male population was intimidating females. Her report also highlighted the use of force to remove families as unnecessary, serving only to heighten existing tensions. Owers also claimed that educational facilities and basic childcare services have also fallen in standard.

Tinsley House can hold around 150 detainees – mostly those who have violated visa conditions or those who are awaiting deportation. The UK Border Agency employs the private security firm Group4 Security to manage the facility.

Responding to the allegations the UKBA has acknowledged that at the time of Owers’ inspection conditions at the facility were less than ideal but denied suggestions that they were wholly unacceptable. They have, however, agreed to conduct a review of their services with children and women a priority for the agency.