The Chair of the APPG on Immigration Detention, Alison Thewliss MP has written today to the Home Secretary seeking urgent clarification about the situation at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre (IRC).

Recent media articles have reported that Yarl’s Wood is no longer holding any female detainees, but has instead been ‘repurposed’ to hold people arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel by boat. Information suggests that this has been achieved by expanding the centre’s already existing Short-Term Holding Facility (STHF).

Such as change would have extremely significant implications, both for the individuals detained at the facility and for external organisations supporting them.

Despite this, the Home Office has so far provided very little information about the situation at the centre.

Ms Thewliss’ letter therefore lays out a number of key questions for the Home Secretary to answer, including whether or not the expansion has taken place and, if so, what conditions people are being held under.

A full copy of the letter can be found below.