National Preventive Mechanism Eleventh Annual Report 2019–20 39% of people detained at the centre were classed as adults at risk.88 The Scottish Government has repeatedly pressed the UK Government to implement more humane asylum and immigration detention systems. On 15 May 2019, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government wrote to the UK immigration minister to express the Scottish Government’s deep concerns following reports about the detention of children and pregnant women at Dungavel House IRC. On 1 April 2019, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to support calls for a time limit on immigration detention.89 Deaths in immigration detention Over the reporting period there was a series of critical inquests examining the circumstances of deaths of immigration detainees which took place between 2016 and 2017. These included both selfinflicted deaths and those involving issues with physical health care.90 In March 2020, an inquest was concluded into the death of Prince Kwabena Fosu who died in Harmondsworth IRC on 30 October 2012. 88 89 90 32 Prince Kwabena Fosu, 31, was a Ghanaian national who entered the UK on a valid business visitor visa. He was then refused leave on entry but appealed. The inquest into his death heard evidence that, shortly after that appeal concluded, police encountered Mr Fosu running naked down the street. Despite concerns of officers, a mental health assessment in the police station concluded he was fit to be detained and transferred to immigration detention. Shortly after arriving at Harmondsworth IRC, Mr Fosu was restrained and put into segregation where he remained until his death six days later, on 30 October 2012. The bedding had been removed, and records of checks by health and detention staff showed no positive evidence that Mr Fosu had eaten, drunk or slept, and that he was naked throughout this time. The cell was contaminated with smeared faeces, urine and food debris, but Mr Fosu was not referred for a mental health assessment at any point, although an IMB member raised concerns about his mental health. The inquest concluded that neglect contributed to his death, and the jury identified several serious failures by the Home Office, detention staff, health care teams and the police, as well as other agencies. The jury was also critical of the IMB, finding its monitoring of Mr Fosu was ineffective and inadequate. The medical cause of death was found to be a ‘sudden death following hypothermia, dehydration and malnourishment in a man with psychotic illness’. BBC Scotland, May 2019, ‘At risk’ adults held at Dungavel immigration centre, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ukscotland-48367896 [accessed 31/08/2020]. The Home Office reported to the NPM that their interpretation of this data would instead make this 28% of people detained. TheyWorkForYou, June 2019, Scottish Parliament written questions: Dungavel House (Children), https://www. theyworkforyou.com/sp/?id=2019-06-06.21.0 [accessed 31/08/2020] See notes section: INQUEST, March 2020, Press release: Jury concludes neglect and gross failures contributed to the death of Prince Fosu in immigration detention, https://www.inquest.org.uk/prince-fosu-inquest-conclusion [accessed 31/08/2020]