Human Rights Crisis in Detention Centre
Content warning: violence, suicide attempt
Reports of brutal treatment of people detained, children being held in detention, and a mental health crisis in Harmondsworth and Colnbrook detention centres.
Urgent action is required to address this crisis, to ensure those affected are safe and their rights are respected, and to hold the Home Office and Mitie PLC to account.
Please take immediate action to support people detained in Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) as they face threats and brutal violence amid a rising mental health crisis. On Sunday 25th June, people held inside the centres protested against the unacceptable and dangerous conditions they have been subjected to, demanding urgent access to healthcare and other support. They have described their situation as a "human rights crisis". In retaliation, authorities have punished them for exercising their right to protest by placing a significant number of people in segregation and threatening them with transfer to prison. Dogs have been used on those detained, and we have heard alarming reports of an increasing number of suicide attempts as the mental health and well-being of people imprisoned is being completely disregarded. This comes after months of people being denied medical care for confirmed and suspected injuries and ambulances being denied entry during mental health emergencies. At least one of the people being held in Harmondsworth is underage.
Both detention centres are run by Mitie Group PLC, a private contractor.
This brutal and inhumane treatment of people inside immigration detention is unacceptable. Those inside need your solidarity.
What action can you take?
- Writing to local MP John McDonnell - john.mcdonnell.mp@parliament.uk, office manager - LOWDERH@parliament.uk
- Emailing and calling Harmondsworth and Colnbrook IRCs HIRCDomesticVisits@mitie.com at 020 8607 5200
- Contact the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration at chiefinspector@icibi.gov.uk
- Calling and writing to Mitie at info@mitie.com and 0330 678 0710
- Email Mitie CEO Phil Bentley at phil.bentley@mitie.com
- Writing to the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights at jchr@parliament.uk
- Contacting Gareth Hills - Senior Director for Returns and Detention Operations, Home Office at public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk (specify Gareth Hills in subject)
- Journalists: help raise awareness of the crisis - contact us and we can connect you to people who can provide comment
Sample message
I'm writing with urgent concern about the current human rights crisis at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs). There have been worrying reports of brutal treatment of people inside the detention centres in retaliation to protests happening there last Sunday. I am especially concerned about people being placed into segregation, threatened to be moved to prison in violation of their rights, and rising numbers of suicide attempts due to this crisis. I am also deeply concerned that the centres are detaining children. Please help end the violence and ensure that the rights, wellbeing, and dignity of the people inside the detention centres are restored and their urgent demands for health care and other support are met.
About Us
We are Action Against Detention and Deportations, a coalition of groups and individuals committed to ending detention, deportations and the wider “hostile environment” against migrants. Our members include people seeking sanctuary in the UK and those who have experienced the full force of the border regime. Collectively, we have decades of experience campaigning against detention and deportation and for refugee and migrant rights. We demand protection of the freedom to move, the freedom to stay, and an end to the violent practices of immigration enforcement in the UK and beyond.
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