Immigration

In 2023 there were two deaths of people detained under Immigration Act Powers.

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Protecting vulnerable people in detention

The IAPDC was asked by the Home Office to provide advice on issues pertaining to deaths, ‘near misses’, and incidents of serious self-harm immigration detention. This request was made in support of three recommendations relating to deaths in detention made by Sir Stephen Shaw in his independent Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons in 2016. These were:

• Recommendation 34: The Home Office should review whether figures relating to deaths in and after detention should be issued on a regular basis.
• Recommendation 37: That the Home Office commission research into deaths in immigration detention, ‘near misses’ and incidents of serious self-harm.
• Recommendation 38: The Home Office should devise and publish a strategy for reducing the number of deaths from natural causes and those that are self-inflicted in, and shortly after, immigration detention.

In 2020, the Panel published its report on suggested priorities for a prevention of death strategy in Immigration Removal Centres.

The Home Office published its response, and an associated Action Plan, in March 2021.

• Read the report: Priorities for a prevention of death strategy in Immigration Removal Centres and associated action plan