A 26-year-old man has died while in custody at the Brook House migrant removal centre located in West Sussex, as confirmed by Serco, the facility’s managing company. This incident occurred on a Sunday at the centre adjacent to Gatwick Airport. The Home Office expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

Migrant removal centres accommodate various detainees, including asylum seekers, individuals denied the right to stay in the UK, and those awaiting deportation after serving criminal sentences. Currently, there is no limit on how long detainees may be held.

A public inquiry conducted last year revealed a troubling environment at Brook House, highlighting instances of mistreatment and inappropriate use of force against migrants. This inquiry was initiated following a 2017 BBC Panorama investigation that stemmed from concerns raised by a whistleblower who worked as a custody officer at the centre. The inquiry’s final report uncovered 19 cases of abuse over five months in 2017, which included unnecessary pain inflicted on detainees and dangerous restraint practices. Additionally, it noted incidents where individuals were forcibly moved while undressed and reported instances of racist and homophobic language directed at them.

Conditions within the centre were criticized for being overcrowded and unclean, with persistent noise from aircraft at Gatwick. There were also reports of widespread drug use involving a substance known as Spice. Serco took over operations at Brook House in 2020. Another death occurred last November involving a 37-year-old Albanian man during his detention.

A recent report from the Gatwick Independent Monitoring Board pointed out ongoing issues within the centre. Kate Eves, who led the public inquiry, stated that only one out of her 33 recommendations for improvement had been accepted by the government.

The Home Office has previously asserted its commitment to enhancing conditions within immigration detention facilities. In response to the latest death, charity Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group likened Brook House to a prison and expressed sorrow that a young man lost his life before achieving freedom. Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director referred to this incident as a tragedy and criticized Brook House for its history of violence and abuse.

The circumstances surrounding this man’s death remain unclear, but it underscores significant flaws within an immigration system that often fails to uphold human rights and dignity.