The contract awarded by the Home Office will begin on
21 May 2020. It includes ambitious plans to improve the
2 centres in Gatwick.
As part of the new contract, Serco will:
- substantially increase staff numbers so officers
spend more time supporting detainees
- give detainees access to educational and
skills-based activities, 7 days a week to help with
their return
- boost the number of welfare staff to ensure
individuals receive the appropriate level of care
- provide new safeguarding and vulnerability training
for staff
The improvements are further steps to modernise the
immigration detention estate, as well as responding to
the former Prison Ombudsman, Stephen Shaw’s two reports
on detention.
The contract includes improved performance monitoring
to ensure detainees’ health and welfare are
prioritised. Financial penalties will be considered if
there are any dips in performance standards.
Immigration Minister said:
Detention plays a key but limited role in the wider
immigration system and ensures we can remove foreign
national offenders and those with no legal right to
be in the UK.
This contract is a major step forward in our
programme of immigration detention reform. It will
significantly improve the day-to-day lives of
detainees and the staff who support them.
The government’s priorities for immigration detention
reform include minimising the use of detention and
strengthening decision-making and safeguards for the
vulnerable, while continuing to tackle abuse of the
immigration system.
These reforms already mean that:
- 95% of those liable for removal are managed in the
community
- 73% of detainees are in detention for less than 29
days, and 96% for less than 4 months
- the detention estate is now almost 40% smaller than
it was in 2015
- as of September 2019, there were 11% fewer people
in detention than a year ago
Serco Ltd already manage Yarl’s Wood immigration
removal centre on behalf of the Home Office. Their
contract for Brook House and Tinsley House will last
until 2028, with an option to extend until 2030.
G4S currently run Brook House and Tinsley House, which
includes pre-departure accommodation. The Home Office
is working closely with G4S and Serco Ltd to ensure a
smooth transition.
