Tragic Death of 26-Year-Old at Brook House Migrant Removal Centre Highlights Ongoing Issues in UK Detention System

In a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by detainees, a 26-year-old man has tragically died at the Brook House migrant removal centre in West Sussex, a facility that has become synonymous with controversy and systemic failures. The incident, confirmed by Serco, the company responsible for running the centre, raises urgent questions about the treatment of individuals in the UK’s immigration system.

The man was found unresponsive on Sunday, prompting expressions of sympathy from the Home Office, which extended its condolences to the victim's family and friends. However, the unfortunate event has shone a spotlight on the conditions within migrant removal centres, which house a diverse range of individuals—including asylum seekers, those who have been denied the right to remain in the UK, and individuals awaiting deportation after serving criminal sentences.

One of the most pressing issues surrounding Brook House is the lack of a maximum detention period, which often leaves detainees languishing in limbo. This situation is made all the more concerning by findings from a public inquiry launched in response to a 2017 investigation by BBC Panorama. The inquiry highlighted a toxic environment characterized by degrading treatment and inappropriate uses of force against detainees.

The final report from the inquiry revealed 19 disturbing incidents of mistreatment over a five-month period in 2017, including unnecessary pain inflicted upon detainees, dangerous restraint techniques, and degrading practices involving the forcible moving of detainees who were naked or near-naked. Detainees were often subjected to racist and homophobic language while enduring overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions, complicated further by noise from nearby Gatwick Airport. Reports of the use of the so-called "zombie drug," Spice, added another layer of concern.

Serco assumed control of Brook House in 2020, following prior revelations of abuse. Sadly, the recent death is not an isolated incident; last November, a 37-year-old Albanian man also died while detained at the centre. Just this past August, a report from the Gatwick Independent Monitoring Board revealed continuing failings within the facility. Alarmingly, a month later, Kate Eves, chair of the public inquiry, announced that the government had agreed to implement only one of her 33 recommendations for reform.

In the wake of this latest tragedy, advocacy groups have been vocal about the urgent need for change. The Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group condemned the centre’s conditions, equating Brook House to a prison and expressing their sorrow over the young man's death. "No-one should take their last breath there," they stated, lamenting the loss of a life before reaching freedom.

Amnesty International UK's refugee and migrant rights director, Steve Valdez-Symonds, characterized the death as a “tragedy,” linking it to the pervasive issues of violence and abuse that have plagued Brook House. He called for an overhaul of the immigration system, emphasizing that “people's lives depend on it.”

West Sussex County Council has confirmed it has made a referral to the coroner regarding the incident, although further details are still pending. As the community awaits answers, the conversation surrounding the treatment of migrants in detention continues to escalate.

The circumstances surrounding this young man's death further expose the need for an urgent reform within the UK’s immigration system, advocating for a humane approach that upholds the dignity and rights of every individual, regardless of their immigration status.