Immigration detention report must catalyse change for torture survivors

Dr Juliet Cohen, Head of Doctors at Freedom from Torture and a frequent visitor to immigration detention centres, said:

"Today's report gives an unflinching critique of the UK's immigration detention system and Freedom from Torture endorses the recommendations made.

Over the years many credible reports have made constructive suggestions for the improvement of the asylum system, and immigration detention specifically, yet few appear to result in any meaningful action by the Home Office. On this occasion, the desire to create an effective and fair system must trump any other consideration. Today's report reveals the depth of the flaws in this system, and must serve as a catalyst for change.

Of particular concern is the safeguard intended to protect vulnerable people, including torture survivors, from being wrongly routed into detention which has consistently been found to be failing. It is shocking that, in spite of this recognition, nothing has been done to significantly improve the screening process to identify those for whom detention might be seriously damaging.

Our doctors regularly examine torture survivors who have been wrongly detained under the immigration rules and whose health we believe has been significantly adversely affected by this experience. In extreme cases, our clients have turned to self-harm or attempted suicide after experiencing re-traumatisation in detention.

This inhumane system must be overhauled to ensure that vulnerable and traumatised individuals whose detention is for administrative convenience and no other reason are given the protection they came to the UK to claim."