Ombudsman investigating death of man at immigration removal centre
An investigation has been launched into the death of a man held at an immigration removal centre.
The 43-year-old man, who has not been identified, had been detained at The Verne in Portland, Dorset.
He died at the centre on Sunday.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a 43-year-old man who had been detained at the Verne Immigration Removal Centre died at the centre on 9 April 2017.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time. A full independent investigation will be conducted by the prisons and probation ombudsman.”
In an unconnected incident a small fire was started at the site on Monday. It was extinguished by officers and no one was injured.
The death of the detainee comes weeks after concerns were raised about the effects of detention on those held at The Verne.
Nearly 500 men are held at the centre and campaigners claimed last month that many have little or no indication about how long they will be there.
The Home Office said people are held for the minimum time possible and no one is detained indefinitely.
Of the people leaving detention last year, 64% had been in detention for less than 29 days and 93% for less than four months, the Government department said.
Immigration removal centres (IRCs) are used to house foreign nationals including overseas offenders and asylum seekers either while their cases are decided or after their leave to remain in the country has been refused.
The Verne, a former prison, has been an IRC since September 2014.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2017, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Chris Ison / PA Wire.
