Harmondsworth IRC
Harmondsworth IRC is an immigration removal centre.
Introduction
It was run by UK Detention Services (UKDS) from 2001 under an eight year contract worth £180m. The Geo Group UK ran Harmondsworth from June 2009 until September 2014 when it was taken over by Mitie Care and Custody and 'merged' with Colnbrook IRC to form what is sometimes called Heathrow IRC.
List of centre managers
- Joanne Henney from June 2009 to November 2012
- Alan Hunt from December 2012 to December 2013
- Paul Morrison from September 2014
Management by UK Detention Services
Sodexho-subsidiary UKDS started running Harmondsworth in 2001. It held 550 people, including children as young as 4 years old.
It was alleged at the time of commencing the contract that Sodexho planned for asylum-seekers at Harmondsworth to work for almost nothing so that the company could cut its operating costs. A Home Office document obtained by the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, showed that the Government intended to suspend the minimum wage at Harmondsworth so that Sodexho could pay asylum seekers £12 a week, which works out at 34p an hour (92% below the minimum wage) to do the work of painters, cleaners and caterers. If they refused work but complied with an 'agreed activity programme', they would be paid £6. If they refused to cooperate at all, they would be given £4 for cleaning their rooms.[1] The scheme did not proceed at that time.
On February 22, 2002, The London Times reported that nine detainees escaped from Harmondsworth, breaking a window, scaling a 15’ fence and using towels to get over the razor wire surrounding the facility.[2]
In a report that came out in March 2003, the prisons inspectorate expressed “deep concern” about detainees with mental health problems being held at Harmondsworth.[3]
An inspection of Harmondsworth made by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in September 2003 said that:
"There were increasing levels of disorder, damage and escape attempts, with an average of seven assaults a week. In spite of an average of one self-harm incident a week, suicide, self-harm and anti-bullying procedures were not effectively managed. Nor was there sufficient mental health support for detainees held in the in-patient ward.” [4]
In conclusion, the report stated: “Harmondsworth, when we inspected it, did not meet three of our four tests for a healthy custodial environment.”
Notes
- ↑ Asylum industry cashes in on vouchers and dispersals, Martin Bright & Conal Walsh, 2/9/01. The Observer viewed 25/08/03
- ↑ The Times, 22/2/2002 www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-215410,00.html viewed 18/12/03
- ↑ Annual Inspectors Report, March 2003, p12. www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/imbharmondsworthb2002.pdf viewed 25/08/03
- ↑ “Harmondsworth – Unsafe Environment despite good work by staff”. Press Release by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. 29/09/03 Viewed at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/harmondsworthirc030929.html 30/09/03
