Brook house

The Brook House Inquiry was a public investigation into the mistreatment of detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, located near Gatwick Airport. It was launched in November 2019 following the shocking revelations from BBC Panorama, which aired undercover footage showing detainees being abused, degraded, and ignored by staff. The footage captured incidents of physical violence, mocking of vulnerable detainees, and neglect in cases where detainees were at risk of self-harm. This led to widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

The inquiry, chaired by Kate Eves, examined the conditions at Brook House between April and August 2017, a period covered by the BBC’s investigation. It sought to understand the failures in staff conduct, oversight, and institutional policies that enabled the mistreatment to persist. Over its 46-month duration, the inquiry gathered extensive evidence, including testimonies from former detainees, staff, and policymakers. It also reviewed policies from the Home Office, which outsourced the management of Brook House to G4S, a private security company. The inquiry revealed systemic failures, including poor staff training, a toxic environment, and inadequate safeguarding for detainees, many of whom were vulnerable individuals facing deportation.

One of the most alarming findings was the culture of impunity among staff, where abusive behavior went unchallenged and detainees were often treated with disdain and cruelty. The inquiry concluded that the conditions at Brook House directly contributed to serious harm, including self-harm incidents and a high risk of suicide. Additionally, it criticized the Home Office for prioritizing cost-efficiency over detainee welfare, which allowed these abuses to continue unchecked.

The final report, published in September 2023, put forward 33 recommendations to improve oversight and safeguard detainees. These included better staff training, stricter monitoring, increased mental health support, and reforms to immigration detention policies. The government responded to the report with a mix of acknowledgment and resistance, agreeing to some changes but rejecting calls for deeper reforms.

While the inquiry exposed shocking failures, critics argued that it didn’t go far enough in demanding accountability—particularly in holding officials and private contractors responsible. Nevertheless, the Brook House Inquiry served as a landmark investigation, bringing much-needed scrutiny to the UK’s immigration detention system and prompting renewed calls for reform and better protection for detainees.