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Reports published 17 May 2023

Published:

Reports on inspections of short-term holding facilities managed by Border Force and court custody facilities in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire

Short-term holding facilities managed by Border Force

Dates of inspection: 9-20 January 2023

Summary of findings: These facilities at five airports and 10 seaports hold individuals and families who have been detained at the border by the UK Border Force. The inspection found considerable improvement since the last inspection in 2020, particularly in leadership and coordination between regional and national teams. Conditions at two locations remained far below acceptable standards.

Points to note: Children and adults vulnerable to harm did not always receive appropriate or sufficient support or care, children were sometimes restrained unnecessarily or inappropriately.

Read the report: Short-term holding facilities managed by Border Force

Court custody facilities in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire

Dates of inspection: 27 February – 11 March 2023

Summary of findings: Multi-agency relationships worked reasonably well and had led to improvements to the conditions in which detainees were held. Staff were kind and helpful, but staff shortages were affecting a number of areas including detainees arriving late to court and spending too long in custody.

Points to note: Detainees were routinely handcuffed and searched without an individual risk assessment.

Read the report: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire court custody