Anne Owers

Four government centres for holding asylum seekers have been criticised by the official watchdog.

In a report on the establishments, published on Tuesday, chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers identified a series of shortcomings.

She said that none of the centres had child protection policies, while training in self-harm and suicide prevention was inadequate.

In addition, no centre had approved fire or health and safety policies or procedures.

The four centres inspected - Dallas Court in Manchester, Communications House in London, and Lunar House and Electric House in Croydon - are non-residential centres holding those who have come to make asylum claims, report to immigration officers or who have been picked up in enforcement operations.

"Though they hold people for only short periods, they do so at a time of considerable stress, when detainees are suddenly cut off from the rest of the world," said Owers.

"In these unannounced inspections, we found that staff were alert to these anxieties.

"However, these reports point to the reforms in procedure and practice that are needed to ensure they are safe and decent environments.

"Above all, they point to the need for regular oversight of these centres, both by senior managers and independent visitors."

Home Office minister Des Browne said he would take "particularly seriously" the watchdog's findings on child protection issues.

"I will ensure that child protection policies are introduced as soon as possible to these types of facilities," he said.
 
"I will also look at how we can extend independent monitoring systems in place across the rest of the removal estate to short-term holding facilities."

But he insisted that detention "is an essential part of effective immigration controls".