Three wings at an immigration detention centre close to Gatwick airport are in lockdown after an outbreak of Covid-19.
It is understood there are 17 confirmed cases at the Brook House immigration removal centre. A notice from the Home Office contractor Serco, which runs the centre, was pushed under detainees’ cell doors on Thursday morning confirming the news.
The notice, seen by the Guardian, states that three wings are locked down due to Covid, with detainees encouraged to stay in their rooms. One detainee who recently arrived in the UK on a small boat and was due to be removed to Spain on Thursday spoke to the Guardian from his cell.
“I am so relieved that my ticket for today’s flight was cancelled,” he said. “But it is a very difficult situation for us having to stay in our rooms. We are all scared we will catch Covid because we have been locked up in this place.”
The removals of dozens of asylum seekers on charter flights were halted this week after the submission of human rights and trafficking claims.
On Tuesday a combined deportation flight for offenders and for small boat asylum seekers was due to go to Belgium, Germany and Poland. Home Office sources confirmed that 19 offenders were deported but none of the asylum seekers – who between them had made nine human rights claims and 14 modern slavery claims – boarded the flight.
On Wednesday Home Office sources said small boat asylum seekers due to be removed to Germany, Austria and Lithuania had made 10 human rights claims and eight modern slavery claims.
Asylum seekers who recently arrived on small boats and who were due to be removed on Thursday on a flight to France, Spain and Portugal and who are currently confined to their cells in Brook House as a result of Covid, said all of them had been told their tickets for Thursday’s flight had been cancelled.
Three charities working with immigration detainees expressed concern about the Covid and charter flight situation.
Emma Ginn, the director of Medical Justice, said: “We fear this could be a calamity starting to unfold – one which was entirely avoidable and which we warned of in March. All immigration detainees should be released as soon as safe accommodation in the community can be arranged.”
Celia Clarke, the director of Bail for Immigration Detainees, said: “The sacrifices made by everyone in the UK to protect the NHS and save lives have been continually undermined by the Home Office’s recklessness. The government should now recognise that the use of detention and deportation in the current climate helps to spread coronavirus and puts lives at risk.”
Bella Sankey, the director of Detention Action, said: “It’s a huge relief that the rushed mass removal of people seeking asylum was halted this week. What a state of disarray our Home Office is in – these flights were being considered while Covid runs riot in detention centres.”
Steve Hewer, Serco’s contract director at Gatwick IRC, said: “There is a small number of staff and residents who have recently tested positive at the immigration removal centre. Our priority is to look after everyone in the centre and we are working closely with PHE [Public Health England], our healthcare provider and the director of public health for West Sussex and we are grateful for all the support that we are receiving.
“As well as the support for residents that we are providing with the healthcare team, we are taking all necessary measures to limit the spread of the virus. Anyone who tests positive is being given further personal care and support as appropriate.”
On Wednesday a Home Office spokesperson said about the cancellation of tickets of small boat asylum seekers whom officials were hoping to remove: “Once again, we received a number of late legal claims from migrants who had arrived on small boats who were also meant to be removed on this flight, meaning we were unable to proceed with their removal.
“These claims are often without merit but are given full legal consideration. We are determined to reform our broken asylum system and introduce a system which is firm and fair.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are aware of a number of cases of coronavirus in Brook House. The welfare of those detained in our care is of the utmost importance and we are working closely with our providers and Public Health England to stop the spread of the virus. This includes enhanced cleaning regimens across immigration centres and making sure anyone who may have been exposed self-isolates.”