Inspectors Report Male Detainees Observed at Women's Windows and Restricted Movement for Women at Dungavel Centre

Inspectors found male detainees at Dungavel immigration removal centre in South Lanarkshire looking into women’s bedrooms. Female detainees could not move freely without staff escorts, while men had unrestricted movement. The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, reported that inspectors witnessed male detainees looking through women’s bedroom windows and that a group of men approached inspectors to ask why they could not mix with female detainees.

The report stated that 43 percent of women at the centre reported feeling unsafe in outside areas. At the time of the inspection the centre held a man assessed to pose a risk of harm to women. Another man facing impending prosecutions for sexual offences had been held there for over a year until shortly before the inspection.

Some women said they never left the female unit unless absolutely necessary, while others were reluctant even when escorted. Pregnant women, those physically unwell, or at risk of self-harm or suicide were transferred across the country late at night with little regard for their health or the appropriateness of the transfer.

Inspectors also identified concerning practices around the use of handcuffs, including the handcuffing of a pregnant woman.

Home Office figures show that as of December 2025, 119 women were being held in UK immigration removal centres and residential short-term holding facilities. Taylor said far fewer women than men are held in immigration detention, so their experiences are still largely shaped by policies designed for men.