Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Avebury (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 15 February 2006.

Immigration Detention Centres

Question: My Lords, considering the number of deaths in immigration detention centres given by the noble Lord and the fact that the Chief Inspector of Prisons mentions suicide no fewer than 19 times in her most recent report on a detention centre, Harmondsworth, does the noble Lord not think that it is damaging to the credibility of the whole service when long delays take place in bringing them before coroners’ courts? Are any steps included in the announcement made by the Solicitor-General last week concerning the reform of coroners’ courts that will speed up the reports on the deaths in immigration detention centres and the consequent reports by the prison ombudsman, which always appear several months later? Can the noble Lord also say whether he has read the article in the BMJ Journals last week, which said that it was questionable whether effective psychiatric services could be provided in an environment of prolonged detention such as we have in the centres? Will he say what is being done to reduce the length of detention and thus the likelihood of self-harm and suicide?

Answer: My Lords, I should make it plain from the start that we are concerned about this area, and of course the reports to which the noble Lord has referred are important and telling. Steps are taken to ensure that we adopt the best practice. We are working carefully with the Prison Service to ensure that when it changes its procedures to a new system we adopt that new system as well. It is regrettable that cases take a time to come to coroners’ courts, but the coroners’ courts process is very rigorous, and it is only right that due process is seen to be operating properly. It means that the issues are considered thoroughly, which is to everyone’s benefit, not least those who endure a period of time in Immigration Service detention.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 678 c1149-50
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Detainees Administrative delays Coroners Immigration Mental health services Suicide Detention centres Self-harm Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Immigration removal centres
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk