In September 2020, the UK Government began using two former military facilities – Penally Camp in Wales, and Napier Barracks in Kent – to house people seeking asylum.
The sites replicate many of the features found in detained settings, including isolation from the wider community, visible security measures, and reduced levels of privacy and control/agency for residents.
On Wednesday 17 March 2021, the APPG held a meeting with David Bolt, then Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) and Hindpal Singh Bhui, Inspection Team Leader at HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) to discuss the findings from their inspection visits to the sites the previous month. The inspectors’ visits formed part of ICIBI’s ongoing inspection of contingency asylum accommodation.
Minutes from the meeting can be accessed here.
The government announced the closure of Penally Camp in late March 2021. Napier Barracks continues to operate however.
Following the meeting, 21 members of the APPG, including MPs from both government and opposition parties, wrote to the Home Secretary to express their concerns about the use of the sites, and calling for the immediate closure of Napier Barracks.
A full copy of the letter can be found below. It was covered by a number of media outlets including the Guardian, the Daily Mail, Sky News and the Evening Standard.