Legal News

The Home Office’s professional standards unit is to investigate a recent incident at the Yarl's Wood immigration detention centre, which HM Inspectorate of Prisons claims is of “considerable concern”.

BBC News reports that the investigation centres on the actions of guards at Yarl’s Wood – and allegations that excessive force was used in controlling and quashing a recent incident at the detention centre.

Detainees at Yarl’s Wood claims the guards broke up a peaceful protest some weeks ago, using excessive force.

Guards from security company Serco police the immigration detention centre – and Serco has denied claims that its employees used excessive force against detainees.

However, one Serco guard has been suspended pending the inquiry into what happened at the centre. A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said that a police inquiry found no evidence that an offence had taken place.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons says that CCTV footage has raised concerns over how the protest was handled by staff, however.
A lawyer for detainees at the centre said that as a small group of women were staging a peaceful protest in a bedroom with a Kenyan asylum seeker – who was about to be deported – detainees claim dozens of staff in riot gear dragged them out.

It is also alleged that one guard used the edge of his riot shield to hit them on their legs and feet.

A spokesman for Serco said staff had been under the impression that the women at the centre of the protest had armed themselves with cutlery, as a result of which, the guards had worn protective clothing.

Serco also said there was a question over whether a guard had used his shield appropriately – however, the guard in question has been suspended pending further investigation.
Yarl’s Wood accommodates up to 400 women who are under threat of deportation.

There have previously been allegations surrounding the treatment of women at Yarl’s Wood, with campaigners holding vigils to get them released, claiming they are vulnerable and should not be kept in detention.

There have also been allegations of inappropriate sexual contact between guards and some vulnerable female prisoners at Yarl’s Wood. In 2013, a former detainee alleged she had had sexual contact with three guards and one guard had had sexual contact with at least four other detainees. She said that not all the sexual contact had been consensual.

The woman – who is from the Roma community – said that when she reported the incidents to Yarl’s Wood management, attempts were made to deport her “within days”.

In October 2013, two male members of staff at Yarl’s Wood were sacked for having sexual contact with the woman, although inspectors found no evidence of a “wider culture of victimisation or systematic abuse” at the detention centre.
Earlier this year two members of staff at Yarl’s Wood were suspended following fresh allegations of abuse at the centre.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can advise on a wide range of immigration matters including asylum in the UK and asylum appeals, as well as appeals against deportation from the UK under the Human Rights Act.

Duncan Lewis is a successful firm of Legal Aid immigration solicitors – and also has successful departments covering mental health, family and criminal law, which may be relevant to an applicant’s case in any appeal against deportation from the UK under the Human Rights Act.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on prisoner’s rights, including the rights of detainees in immigration detention centres.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law – including appeals against deportation from the UK using human rights legislation – call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For urgent help with immigration matters, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036, where an immigration lawyer is available 24/7.