Alarmingly, the number of serious incidents at a UK immigration detention centre near Gatwick airport has skyrocketed sevenfold, according to a watchdog report. The 28 reported incidents in 2024 were nearly eight times more than the four recorded in the previous year, including large-scale protests and instances of detainees jumping onto safety nets.
The report reveals that the facility was deemed "volatile and less safe" than in past years, with concerns about the treatment of migrants and staff. The centre, formerly two separate sites under management by G4S and Serco, has faced criticism over its handling of incidents, including allegations of assault and racism.
A total of 22 Serco officers were investigated for serious misconduct, with most complaints centered on the use of force. However, some good practice emerged from the report, highlighting moments of empathy shown to vulnerable detainees by Serco staff.
The watchdog's report raises significant concerns about the detention process itself, citing cases where migrants were held for over 700 days and subjected to mental health issues due to their prolonged confinement. Many released without being removed from the country, with some 3,134 people let go after being detained.
Detainees described arriving at the centre feeling "shocked and bewildered", as staff struggled to cope with an influx of new arrivals under a contentious Rwanda migration scheme that was later scrapped. Despite efforts by Serco to improve conditions, many critics remain unconvinced, calling for fundamental changes to address the facility's persistent issues.
Reps from the two companies involved expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging areas where progress has been made but dismissing as "out of date" criticisms based on opinion and lacking evidence. The Home Office defended its use of force policies, stating a review process is in place to ensure proportionate application.
The report reveals that the facility was deemed "volatile and less safe" than in past years, with concerns about the treatment of migrants and staff. The centre, formerly two separate sites under management by G4S and Serco, has faced criticism over its handling of incidents, including allegations of assault and racism.
A total of 22 Serco officers were investigated for serious misconduct, with most complaints centered on the use of force. However, some good practice emerged from the report, highlighting moments of empathy shown to vulnerable detainees by Serco staff.
The watchdog's report raises significant concerns about the detention process itself, citing cases where migrants were held for over 700 days and subjected to mental health issues due to their prolonged confinement. Many released without being removed from the country, with some 3,134 people let go after being detained.
Detainees described arriving at the centre feeling "shocked and bewildered", as staff struggled to cope with an influx of new arrivals under a contentious Rwanda migration scheme that was later scrapped. Despite efforts by Serco to improve conditions, many critics remain unconvinced, calling for fundamental changes to address the facility's persistent issues.
Reps from the two companies involved expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging areas where progress has been made but dismissing as "out of date" criticisms based on opinion and lacking evidence. The Home Office defended its use of force policies, stating a review process is in place to ensure proportionate application.
this is crazy the UK immigration centre near Gatwick airport is like a war zone 7 times more incidents than last year 
, people are getting hurt and mistreated, it's not right at all 
, 22 Serco staff investigated for misconduct, use of force is a major issue, but some good people showed empathy to vulnerable detainees 
, still, many critics think the whole system needs a overhaul 
. 28 incidents in one year? That's crazy! And it's not just the numbers that are alarming, but also the stories behind them. Those migrants who were held for over 700 days... it's mental health issues, emotional trauma... what kind of system allows this to happen? 
We need real changes, not just lip service from the companies and government reps trying to downplay things. I mean, empathy is good, but you can't just sprinkle a few nice moments to distract us from the bigger picture 
. We need to fundamentally rethink how we treat people who are already vulnerable in this country.
OMG that's so worrying! 28 incidents in one year? It sounds like the centre is super chaotic! 
We need to make sure these facilities are treating everyone humanely and with respect. 700 days is crazy long to be detained - what kind of mental health issues can they possibly have? 
. And what really gets my blood boiling is that some staff are being investigated for serious misconduct, specifically assault and racism 
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. But we all know how those reviews usually go... it's like they're just sweeping it under the rug 
. The fact that 22 Serco officers were investigated and most complaints centered on use of force is just plain disturbing 
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. That's the kind of change we need to see more of, not just empty promises from the Home Office 
. We need fundamental changes to address the facility's persistent issues and make sure these incidents never happen again 
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The fact that some staff showed empathy towards detainees is a good start, but not enough to counterbalance the chaos and controversy surrounding this place. 
Like, what's up with the UK immigration detention centre? It's like they're trying to break some sorta world record for most drama 
... sevenfold more incidents than last year? That's crazy! And 700 days without a release? dude, that's longer than I've been waiting for my cable internet to get fixed 
. Can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out 
. We need concrete changes that address the root of the problem. Like, what if we invested more in mental health support and training for staff? What if we rethought our policies on detention and deportation? There are so many ways to improve this system without relying on force or intimidation.
700 days locked up? that's mental health trauma on steroids 
serco's gotta do better, but reps from the companies are still pushing back like they're in some kind of bubble 
meanwhile, reps from home office are playing the victim 
all we want to see is real change, not just PR spin 
We're always told that security comes first, but at what price to human dignity? 700 days locked up, with no clear end goal in sight... is that really safe or just plain cruel? 
And they're still not addressing the root causes of these problems. I mean, I'm all for keeping people safe, but this facility is clearly not doing its job. 
The fact that some Serco staff showed empathy towards vulnerable detainees is great, but it's just a drop in the ocean compared to the systemic issues here. We need more transparency and accountability from these companies and the Home Office. Until then, I'll be keeping a close eye on this situation 
And what really gets me is that some people got released without even being deported. Like, what's the point of detaining someone if they're just gonna be let go anyway? 
what kind of treatment is that for humans? and dont even get me started on the Rwanda scheme, thats just cruel on top of everything else 
. I've seen some reports about the UK immigration detention centre being super volatile lately. It's crazy that the number of incidents has gone up so much 
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they're talking about 7 FOLD more incidents than last year!!! it's like something needs to change ASAP 
what kind of "detention process" allows this to happen?!? 
i mean, i get it, they're human and stuff but assault and racism can't just be brushed under the rug. and what about those migrants held for over 700 days?! mental health issues? that's like a nightmare come true