Excellent progress at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre paving the way for further improvement
A review of progress at Harmondsworth has revealed substantial improvements since February 2024, when it received the worst-ever judgements for an immigration removal centre.
Of the 14 concerns raised at the West London facility, good progress had been made against 11, reasonable progress against one, and insufficient progress against only two, an impressive achievement in just one year.
Where previously there had been too few staff, with too little experience and a lack of effective support from middle management, substantial investment had seen staff levels double, and a more engaged and upbeat team were receiving better management support and supervision.
Problems with neglected, dirty and run-down communal areas had been addressed with a programme of rebuilding and refurbishment. The worst living block had been closed for remedial work and another had already reopened with much better living conditions. The much-improved reception unit, which now included private interviewing space, was to reopen shortly.
High-level collaboration between Harmondsworth and the Metropolitan Police Service, which included regular meetings between senior leaders, and surveillance, searching and sharing of intelligence, was helping to tackle the supply of drugs in a more coordinated way. Several arrests had been made and the message to staff was that corruption would not be tolerated. Staff were now more consistently challenging unacceptable behaviour from detainees, including the smoking of illegal drugs, leading to a generally calmer and safer atmosphere.
Self-harm had reduced and there were better systems to assess detainees’ needs and provide support. However, progress was still too slow in improving protections for vulnerable detainees, especially through the Rule 35 process, and mental health services remained inadequate to meet the considerable need. There was still not enough systematic support for those being released, but there had been improvements to activities and welfare provision that were helping many to manage the stresses of detention.
Between then, and our review of progress in 2025, leaders have acted decisively to address many of those issues, including decrepit buildings, inadequate staffing, violence, and the ingress and use of drugs.
The improvements are exceptional and leaders at Harmondsworth can be proud of what they have achieved. While much more remains to be done, leaders are fully focused on the task ahead and have laid the foundations necessary for further progress.
Notes to editors:
- Read the report of the February 2025 Harmondsworth IRC independent review of progress.
- Read he February 2024 report of the full inspection of Harmondsworth.
- Harmondsworth is an immigration removal centre for adult men next to Heathrow Airport and run by Care and Custody (Mitie Group). It was opened in 2000 and has an operational capacity of 658.
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
- Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.