A 26-year-old man has died while in detention at Brook House, an immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport, operated by Serco on behalf of the Home Office. The young man’s death on Sunday has reignited criticism of the UK’s immigration detention system, with advocates calling for urgent reforms.
The Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group expressed condolences, posting, “Brook House is prison architecture and no one should take their last breath there.” Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, Steve Valdez-Symonds, added, “We despair at reports that yet another person has died in the Brook House detention centre,” extending sympathies to the man’s family and fellow detainees.
This tragedy comes amid heightened scrutiny of Brook House, which has faced multiple allegations of mistreatment. A 2017 public inquiry documented 19 incidents of abuse at the facility, prompting calls for systemic change. Last November, a 37-year-old Albanian man died by suicide while in detention at Brook House, and another detainee faced a similar mental health crisis shortly afterwards.
The Home Office responded to recent deaths and concerns with assurances of increased safeguards in detention centres. However, Medical Justice, a charity advocating for detainee rights, expressed doubts, stating they have “seen no improvement in safety” despite years of similar promises.
Valdez-Symonds emphasised the need for a humane immigration system, stating, “Tragic incidents such as this emphasize why the Government must bring humanity to the immigration system… people’s lives depend on it.” The Home Office has extended condolences to the man’s family and friends as investigations into the death continue.
