A 26-year-old male has tragically passed away while in custody at Brook House immigration removal centre, confirmed by the private security firm Serco.
The Home Office has expressed its sympathies to the relatives and friends of the individual, who lost his life on Sunday at the facility located near Gatwick Airport in West Sussex.
Activists associated with the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group responded to the announcement by condemning Brook House, managed and operated by Serco, characterizing it as “prison architecture.”
The organization stated: “No one should take their final breath in such a place.”
“We grieve for a young man who left this world before he could experience freedom.”
Read more from Sky News:
Video captures the moments prior to MP punching an individual
Japan’s sudden election backfires on ruling coalition
This occurrence follows closely almost a year after a 37-year-old man from Albania died by suicide in November 2023 while held at Brook House.
A public investigation into the detention facility concluded that migrants had been victims of mistreatment.
The probe revealed 19 incidents of mistreatment against detainees over a span of five months in 2017.
Inquiry chair Kate Eves – appointed by the then Conservative administration to oversee the investigation – urged in September for a “reset” regarding the “inadequate” response to her recommendations.
Stay updated with the latest news from the UK and globally by following Sky News
Steve Valdez-Symonds, the director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International UK, stated: “We are disheartened by reports of yet another death at the Brook House detention facility.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the fellow detainees who have been impacted by this heartbreaking event.
“Brook House has become infamous for its violence, racism, and mistreatment. While we are currently unaware of the role this may have played in the man’s death, such abuses stem from a broader failure to uphold a system that respects human dignity and rights.
“Tragic events like this underscore the urgent need for the government to incorporate humanity into the immigration system, just as with any other policy area—people’s lives are contingent on it.”
