News

Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, has published a new report on an inspection of Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire.

The report found that:

·‘Too many pregnant women, who should only have been held in exceptional circumstances, were detained in the centre.’ (p6)

·‘There was evidence of poor case owner reviews of their detention, hich took no account of the pregnancy.’ (p16)

·‘There were seven pregnant women at the centre at the time of the inspection. When we reviewed the UKBA files for five of them, only one o was disputed, even though it had been confirmed or some time.’ (p12)

·‘Two of the women’s ultrasound scans had been delayed.’ (p43)

·‘One pregnant detainee had originally been detained in Northern Ireland and had undergone a four-day journey to Yarl’s Wood: from Belfast, she had been transferred to Dungavel IRC in Scotland and then to Pennine House at Manchester airport, where she had collapsed. She had been taken to hospital and treated before completing the rest of her journey to Yarl’s Wood, where she went through the DFT [Detained Fast Track] process.’ (p30)

Celia Clarke, Director of Bail for Immigration Detainees, commented:

‘We are gravely concerned by the Prison Inspector’s findings. His report shows that the situation of these very vulnerable women is not being taken into account by the UK Border Agency when they are detained.

‘In one case, a pregnant women was transferred between four immigration removal facilities and collapsed and was hospitalised during this process. This kind of appalling practice by the UK Border Agency puts the health of women and their unborn children at serious risk, and is wholly unacceptable.

‘We regularly work with pregnant women who are detained by the UK Border Agency for long periods. Pregnant women tell us that they have difficulties eating and sleeping in detention, that that they are suffering from extreme distress and anxiety, and that their physical health is deteriorating. Women report that it is particularly difficult for them to cope without the support of any friends or family during their pregnancy.

‘We are calling on the Government to put an end to the inhumane and unnecessary practice of holding pregnant women in immigration detention.  There is scant risk that women who are pregnant will abscond, given their need to access regular medical care.’

For further information contact Sarah Campbell at Bail for Immigration Detainees on 07949 404505

'Report on an announced inspection of Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre 4–8 July 2011', HMIP,   can be found HERE