Disbelief

As is the case with wider hostile environment policies which have been criticised for starting from a culture of disbelief (see for example, Windrush Lessons Learned Review), people in detention are often subject to this same treatment and not believed by Home Office, custody officers, and healthcare staff. Instead, their distress is viewed as situational, goal-directed, or manipulative.

Visitor groups have echoed this concern. AVID has heard reports from visitor groups who have raised concerns with detention staff only to be told that the issue has been investigated and resolved, despite visitor groups being aware that the person in detention remains at risk. It is possible that this is due to people in detention not feeling able to confide in detention centre staff in the same way as they do to visitors. Either way, it points to a trend of safeguarding concerns not being taken seriously when considered against the priority of removal (as we will see further explored in this chapter in relation to how safeguarding mechanisms in detention function).

The culture of disbelief is also discussed in Ongoing Criticisms and Developments in reference to ICBI report and the Brook House Inquiry as well as in relation to Challenges and concerns about reporting under Rules 32/35.