the swedish migration agency
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this created conflicts with the staff. The staff also stated that it was difficult
for all the detainees to have time to eat because the food is served for only 30
minutes and there are not enough places for all the detainees to sit and eat at
the same time. The detainees emphasised that the conditions at the detention
centre were more similar to a prison in terms of the rules, routines and times
for smoking.
Following the inspection, the Parliamentary Ombudsman stated that the
conditions for the detainees at the detention centre in Ljungbyhed differ to the
conditions at the Swedish Migration Agency’s other detention centres. Life
for a detainee in Ljungbyhed appears to be more limited and regulated. The
limited access to common areas and the exercise yard means that the detainees spend large parts of the day in the residential unit’s corridor and dining
room or in their bedrooms. In the view of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, it
is clear that the design and set up of the detention centre has, to a large extent,
been characterised by the limitations that exist in the premises in which it
is situated. This, in turn, creates far-reaching restrictions for the detainees,
which – in the view of the Parliamentary Ombudsman – is regrettable. From
details that have emerged concerning the physical environment, it also became clear that the detention centre is not sufficiently large to hold 44 detainees.
For this reason, the Swedish Migration Agency should, in the view of the
Parliamentary Ombudsman, immediately consider reducing the number of
places in the detention centre. Furthermore, the agency should take measures
to ensure that the detainees are given the opportunity for daily outdoor access
to a greater extent than they have been given thus far.
Segregation and security placements
A foreigner who is detained and has reached the age of 18 may be segregated
from other detainees if it is necessary to maintain order and safety or security at the centre or if they pose a serious danger to themselves or others.
A decision on segregation is made by the Swedish Migration Agency. The
decision must be reviewed as often as there is reason to do so, but at least
every three days. A foreigner who is segregated because they pose a danger to
themselves must be examined by a doctor as soon as possible.4 The Swedish
Migration Agency may decide that a foreigner who is segregated and who, for
security reasons, cannot be held in a detention centre must instead be placed
in a prison, remand prison or police custody facility (security placement).
The Swedish Migration Agency may also decide on such a placement if the
foreigner is to be deported by a court of law due to a crime, it is necessary for
transportation reasons or other special reasons. A foreigner who has been
placed in a prison, remand prison or police custody facility and who has not
been deported by a court order due to a crime must be segregated from other
4 See Chapter 11, Section 7 of the Aliens Act (2005:716).
Conditions for detainees in Ljungbyhed
must be described
as more limited and
regulated than in
other detention centres operated by the
Swedish Migration
Agency
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