Press Release – Brook House Public Inquiry Report
PRESS RELEASE – 19th September 2023
Brook House Public Inquiry Report
Commenting on the publication today of the Brook House Public Inquiry report, Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWG) Director, Anna Pincus, said:
“Today marks an important moment. This is the first Public Inquiry to examine immigration detention in the UK. GDWG has been a Core Participant and thanks the Deighton Pierce Glynn team for representing the charity and to all the witnesses who are experts by experience whose courage in giving evidence has been outstanding. For over 25 years, GDWG volunteer visitors have supported people in detention and witnessed their suffering. The report highlights that a culture of change must prevail and that in view of the impact of the indefinite nature of detention, ‘those detained at IRCs, including Brook House, should only be kept there for a maximum of 28 days.’[1]”
GDWG has emphasised the human costs of indefinite detention for many years and welcomes the Public Inquiry Report finding that ‘it was clear from the evidence of detained people, those who worked at Brook House, NGOs, and inspection and monitoring bodies that indefinite detention caused uncertainty, frustration and anxiety for detained people, with a negative impact on their health and wellbeing’[2] and ‘contributed to conditions where mistreatment could occur more easily.’[3] The Inquiry could not have made the case for an end to indefinite detention more strongly.
The Inquiry Report describes the prisonisation of detention, an ‘us and them’ toxic culture among staff with a lack of understanding of the power dynamic, a culture of impunity, inappropriate use of force on vulnerable detained people, attitudes of racism and toxic bravado and use of violence and violent language. In relation to safeguarding the report describes ‘a wholesale breakdown in the system of safeguards designed to protect vulnerable detained people.’[4] The catalogue of failings makes it imperative that the government does not persist with a planned increased use of detention following the Illegal Migration Act.
The Report states that the Home Office and G4S appeared reluctant to allow GDWG input and that this ‘would have benefited detained people and also those managing Brook House’.[5] Anna Pincus responded “The importance of the role of visitor groups around the UK cannot be underestimated. In the midst of the toxic culture described in the Report, GDWG visitors maintained an essential humanity, a humanity that was met with the threat of restricted access.
Today visitor groups across the detention estate are as necessary as ever. Whilst Inquiry recommendations provide hope for the future, there are thousands of people being caused harm in detention today. The Inquiry report says that there is still a long way to go[6] and that ‘insufficient progress has been made to address culture within Brook House’[7] identifying ‘a comprehensive range of failings by the Home Office’.[8] The government must commit to implementing the recommendations from the Brook House Inquiry. We await details of the steps that will be taken in response to each of the important recommendations. Abuses must end and must end now.”
GDWG Trustee Pious Keku, who is an expert by experience having been formerly detained at Brook House and other centres, said:
“Immigration detention feels like being in prison. The system makes you feel less than human. I know from direct experience how damaging it is to be held indefinitely. For many, the harm, the nightmares last long after release. When people come to the UK, they should be treated with dignity and respect, and their human rights upheld. We hope the Brook House Public Inquiry Report will mark a turning point in how people are treated in detention and in recognising the need for fundamental change.”
Notes to editors:
1. The Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWG) is a charity that supports people during and after detention at Brook House and Tinsley House, at Gatwick Airport. GDWG works to improve welfare and well-being of people in detention by offering friendship and support, and advocating for fair treatment. We continue to offer support after release.
2. GDWG has been working for over 25 years and has helped over 20,000 people during this time.
3. GDWG was a Core Participant in the Brook House Public Inquiry.
4. GDWG Director Anna Pincus and GDWG Visitor Jamie MacPherson gave evidence to the Public Inquiry. GDWG also submitted written evidence to the Inquiry.
5. GDWG supports a number of individuals who gave evidence to the Public Inquiry about their experiences of detention at Brook House.
For further information or to request an interview, please contact:
Anna Pincus – Director, GDWG – 07804903157
Laura Moffatt – Vice-Chair of Trustees, GDWG – 07974318137
Marie Dewson – Chair of Trustees, GDWG – 07801950306
[1] The Brook House Inquiry Report, Kate Eves, Chair of the Brook House Inquiry, September 2023, Volume 2, p.69, para 62
[2] Vol 2, p.64, para 55
[3] Vol 2, p.67, para 59
[4] Vol 2, p.86, para 41
[5] Vol 1, p.63, para 40
[6] Vol 2, p.261, para 119
[7] Vol 2, p.257, para 114
[8] Vol 2, p.4, para 4.