Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what powers immigration removal centre staff are able to remove mobile telephones from persons detained for being in the UK without a work visa; and whether she plans to review that policy.

The rights of all detained individuals are protected by the Detention Centre Rules 2001 (DCR), published Operating Standards for immigration removal centres (IRCs) and individuals under escort and Detention Services Orders (DSO). This framework includes specific guidance on the Home Office’s policy on the possession of mobile phones in immigration removal centres, as set out in DSO 05/2018 ‘Mobile phones, internet enabled devices, and cameras’

Detained individuals are able to retain their own mobile telephones throughout their detention, provided their handset has no recording facility and/or access to the internet. Where a detained person’s handset does not comply with these restrictions, they are provided with a suitable handset by the IRC supplier so that they may maintain contact with friends, family and other means of support. Individuals are provided with £5 phone credit upon induction to an IRC and they can request additional phone credit to maintain contact with their legal advisors, friends and family up to a maximum of £10 per week.