Many thanks to those who have contacted me about immigration detention as the Coronavirus outbreak continues.
At the end of March the High Court ruled that the Government's approach to detention and coronavirus was sensible and the appropriate precautionary measures were in place. The public rightly expect law and order to be maintained during the outbreak and it is important to remember that those currently in detention are foreign national offenders. Ministers have assured me that the Home Office will only detain people where it is absolutely necessary on a case by case basis and decisions are kept under constant review.
I appreciate that you may have concerns for the wellbeing of detainees and staff. The Home Office is following all the relevant guidance on coronavirus and has extensive plans in place including measures such as protective isolation. I am happy to tell you the appropriate personal protective equipment is available to contractors and healthcare staff when interacting with those detainees being held in isolation.
It may reassure you to know that as detainees arrive at immigration removal centres, they are medically assessed by a nurse within two hours of arrival and by a doctor within 24 hours. They are also provided with the appropriate amenities such as soap and sanitizer is order to stop the spread of the virus.
