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• Immigration Removal Centres: fatal incident emergency response and detainee property, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales, Learning Lessons Bulletin, Issue 2 (March 2014), pp. 8

Immigration Removal Centres: fatal incident emergency response and detainee property, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales, Learning Lessons Bulletin, Issue 2 (March 2014), pp. 8

01 March 2014

This Bulletin by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) examines some “recurring concerns” regarding fatal incidents and detainees’ property at Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs).

In terms of responses to fatal incidents the ombudsman expresses disappointment at the poor quality and “lack of clear and effective systems to ensure that the nature of an emergency is correctly communicated and that healthcare and detention staff working in IRCs are sufficiently trained and equipped to deal with health and medical emergencies.”

At least 15 deaths have been investigated since 2004 and the PPO recommends that staff be equipped with medical training and equipment to facilitate medical care, demonstrating a lamentable failure of the most basic standards in the IRCs.

The report also discusses detainees' complaints, most of which relate to stolen or missing property, and it illustrates that there is “considerable scope for improvement in the appropriate care and consistent recording to detainee property.”

This outcome led the Ombudsman to set up a dedicated team to investigate complaints to ensure that “any necessary learning is identified.” The Bulletin is available online here (pdf).