THE delay in dealing with cases of people detained at the Dover Immigration Removal Centre has been highlighted by the Inspector of Prisons.

Staff and managers at the centre were praised for the way the centre was being run, but the inspectors said the Border and Immigration Agency’s Criminal Casework Directorate were causing considerable frustration and anxiety to both detainees and on-site staff, and threatened to undermine the safety and security of the centre.

The quality of external casework was "very poor" characterised by delay, error and inefficiency.

A British citizen had been held for eight months, even after on-site immigration staff had recognised his status and produced corroborative documents.

Other detainees, desperate to return to their own countries, found their cases parked for months without appropriate action: in one case, on-site staff forwarded the plea 'Please help me! I cannot take much more'.

Bail applications were rarely successful, and the inspectors said it was of particular concern that they found summaries, prepared by caseworkers to contest bail, which were "seriously inaccurate and misleading".

"Those cases were passed on to the Director-General of BIA, who has promised to improve training", said the inspection report.

There was also concern that healthcare had not developed sufficiently since the last inspection, although the imminent involvement of the local Primary Care Trust was likely to improve matters.

Particular concerns were expressed about mental health provision, and staff training in recognising and dealing with previous torture or trauma.