A 26-year-old man has tragically passed away while in custody at the Brook House migrant removal centre, according to Serco, the facility’s managing company. The incident occurred on Sunday at the centre, located adjacent to Gatwick Airport. The Home Office expressed its condolences to the deceased man’s family and friends.

Brook House houses various detainees, including asylum seekers, those denied the right to stay in the UK, and individuals awaiting deportation after serving prison sentences. Notably, there is no established limit on the duration of detention for these individuals.

A public inquiry conducted last year revealed a troubling environment within the centre, highlighting instances of degrading treatment and inappropriate force used against migrants. This inquiry was initiated following a 2017 BBC Panorama investigation triggered by a whistleblower who had served as a custody officer at Brook House. The inquiry’s final report documented 19 cases of mistreatment over five months in 2017, detailing incidents that included unnecessary pain inflicted on detainees, dangerous restraint practices, and instances where detainees were forcibly moved while in states of undress.

Moreover, the report uncovered allegations of racist and homophobic language directed towards detainees. The centre itself was described as overcrowded and unsanitary, with constant noise from nearby aircraft. Additionally, there were reports of widespread use of the drug Spice among inmates.

In August, an independent report from the Gatwick Independent Monitoring Board cited ongoing issues within Brook House. Kate Eves, who led the public inquiry, stated that only one of her 33 recommendations had been accepted by the government as of last month. Despite previous assurances from the Home Office regarding improvements to immigration detention facilities, concerns remain.

The Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group has likened Brook House to a prison setting and lamented that “no one should take their last breath” there. They expressed sorrow over the untimely death of a young man who did not get a chance at freedom.

Steve Valdez-Symonds from Amnesty International UK described the situation as a tragedy and criticized Brook House for its reputation for violence and abuse. He emphasized that incidents like this underscore the need for humane treatment within the immigration system, asserting that people’s lives are at stake.

In related news, French authorities reported that another individual died when a dinghy sank shortly after leaving shore. Additionally, Callum Ulysses Parslow has been convicted of attempted murder concerning an attack on an asylum seeker in response to small boat crossings.