Migrants arriving in Dover after crossing English Channel are sent on three-hour 150m-mile trip to detention centre while still wearing wet clothes, report reveals
- At least 8,400 people reached UK in small boats after crossing Channel last year
- Many are initially placed in short-term holding facilities (STHF) in Dover or Kent
- Can stay for up to seven days in these facilities before being ‘processed’
- They are either bailed, sent to an immigration removal centre (IRC), released, or discharged to social services if under the age of 18
- Officials at Yarl’s Wood stated information coming from Dover is ‘poor quality’
- Migrants have arrived at Yarl’s Wood, which is 150 miles away, ‘still dripping wet’
Migrants who arrived in Dover after crossing the English Channel in small boats are often sent on a three-hour trip to a detention centre while still wearing wet clothes, a report has revealed.
At least 8,400 people reached the UK in small boats last year alone.
Many are initially placed in short-term holding facilities (STHF) in Dover or Folkestone in Kent.
They can stay for up to seven days in these facilities before being ‘processed’ and either bailed, sent to an immigration removal centre (IRC), released, or discharged to social services if under the age of 18.
Officials at Yarl’s Wood IRC feel the information coming from Dover is ‘poor quality’, a report from inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) stated today.
Often, the number of migrants arriving at the centre in Bedford does not tally up with the numbers sent by Dover – and names and photographs often don’t match.
Migrants have also arrived at Yarl’s Wood – which is 150 miles away – ‘still dripping wet’.
Migrants who arrived in Dover (a migrant arriving this month, pictured) after crossing the English Channel in small boats are often sent on a three-hour trip to a detention centre while still wearing wet clothes, a report has revealed
The IMB report stated: ‘One of the challenges facing the reception team (at Yarl’s Wood) has been the poor quality of information coming from the reception team at Dover.
‘At times, the numbers of detainees arriving does not tally with the information provided and case information, photos and names do not match.
‘Detainees have also been arriving in wet clothing.’
It added: ‘Emergency clothing packs are assembled and stored in the post room.
‘When required they can be instantly provided to detainees.
‘This has been invaluable on the many occasions when STHF detainees had arrived from Dover in wet clothing from having crossed the English Channel in small boats.’
Officials at Yarl’s Wood IRC (pictured) feel the information coming from Dover is ‘poor quality’, a report from inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) stated today
The majority of those crossing the Channel in small boats are from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria and Eritrea.
The report into Serco-run Yarl’s Wood IRC – which can hold just over 400 men and women – praised staff for dealing with a ‘large influx of STHF detainees arriving from Dover’.
It stated: ‘Staff professionally managed the large influx of STHF detainees arriving from Dover, often several coaches at a time.’
The report stated that detainees are not locked in their rooms and have access to a library, cinema, hair salon, and cultural kitchen.
In the past year, just over 5,500 detainees have been in Yarl’s Wood IRC, with 281 removed from the UK, five granted leave to remain, and 5,220 bailed.
At least 8,400 people reached the UK in small boats last year alone. Pictured: A migrant arriving in the UK this month
Bail is available to anyone detained by the Home Office once they have been in the UK for a minimum of seven days.
A Home Office spokesperson said today: ‘Detention is an important part of the immigration system – but it must be fair, dignified and protect the most vulnerable.
‘We are pleased that the IMB has recognised that the centre has provided a safe environment for all those in detention, including managing pressures put on the estate during the pandemic and from the need to accommodate those making illegal and dangerous Channel crossings in a short-term holding facility.
‘Our New Plan for Immigration will reform the broken asylum system, allowing us to welcome people through safe and legal routes, while preventing abuse of the system and the criminality associated with it.’
Serco has been approached for comment.