Introduction

The GEO Group UK Ltd operates the Centre on behalf of the United Kingdom Border Agency.

At IRC Harmondsworth we ensure that the principles of care and dignity are maintained for all our detainees within a safe, secure, and decent environment. We promote a regime whereby detainees are encouraged to participate in a varied and challenging program of activity. All core activities are available from 09.00 until 20.30.

Our current role of 615 making us the largest Immigration Removal Centre in the Estate. New units are now in operation and will be self contained, detainees will have free access to the amenities available.

Our residential areas have varied accommodation types available including single, twin, and multi occupancy rooms. Our healthcare department includes a 20 bed inpatient facility for detainees requiring 24hr nursing support and care.

IRC Harmondsworth has a current capacity of 615 adult male detainees and is located in Harmondsworth, Middlesex.


Centre Manager - Alan Hunt

The Centre's amenities include:

• Library
• Classrooms offering ESOL and nationally recognised ICT courses.
• Games Room
• Internet Room
• Canteen
• Induction and Cinema Room.
• Visits Hall
• Dedicated Legal Visits Area
• Garden
• Indoor Sports Hall
• Fitness Suite
• Court yards
• Five aside Football Pitch
• Chapel, Mosque, and Multi-Faith Facilities
• Dedicated Welfare Offices
• Drop in Immigration Fast Track Office
• Shop
• Healthcare Department including In Patients

Sports and Activities

The Head of Residence and Regimes, along with the Residential Managers and Activity Assistants, provide a wide variety of sport and activities.

Dining Room

The Catering Manager and his staff are responsible for the preparation of all meals, to meet cultural and dietary needs.

Meal times:

Breakfast 08.00 - 09.00
Lunch 12.30 - 13.30
Dinner 18.00 - 19.00

Education

The Education Department offers a wide variety of programmes. These include computer studies, English classes, arts & crafts and numeracy classes. Other areas of this department also arrange music and drama events.

Healthcare

The Healthcare Manager and his team of nurses will ensure all health and medical needs for detainees are met at Harmondsworth.

24 hour medical care is provided on site by means of a special medical centre which comprises of:-

• Three hospital-type wards
• Observation rooms,
• Isolation rooms
• Nurses room
• Doctor's room.
• X-Ray room.
• Nurses are on site during 24 hour period
• Doctor runs a morning and afternoon surgery during the day similar to a GP's.
• All new receptions are assessed on arrival.
• An external dentist and psychiatrist to attend on a weekly basis.

Visits

A maximum of 3 adults are permitted to visit a detainee at any one time. No visitors under the age of 18 years old will be able to visit a detainee unless they are accompanied by an adult, and the minor will need to have a close relationship with the detainee, such as Father, Mother, Sister or Brother and a record will need to kept of the date of birth and the name of the child visiting.

Visitors MUST bring 2 types of identification with them on their initial visit.:

1. Photographic ID (such as a valid passport, driving licence photo-card, ID card)
2. Proof of Address (a recent utility bill, bank statement)

Please note: You will be asked to cooperate with our health, safety, and security procedures. You will be subject to search which could utilise drugs dogs. A digital photograph and biometric finger scan will be taken on entry into the centre. This can be removed at the end of the visit if you wish. If you require your data to be removed from our system please speak to the officer at the visit's desk on entry. You will however be required to bring your two types of identification and go through the visitor booking process on each subsequent visit if this is the case. All visitor's information is removed from our systems once the detainee visited has been discharged from our care.

The information you provide will be processed by the UK Border Agency in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The UK Border Agency is the data controller in relation to the information provided by you. The information you provide will be treated in confidence, but it may be disclosed to other government departments, agencies, local authorities and other bodies to enable the UK Border Agency or those bodies to perform their functions. Any disclosures will be in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Visitors are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes before the end of visiting hours to enable all necessary security checks to be completed. Visitors arriving after this time may not be able to complete their visit.

Social Visits

These take place on:

Monday through to Sunday (inclusive of all bank holidays)
14.00 until 20.30.

Family Visits

Additional visiting times are available for detainees with children during our family visiting times where children's activities are laid on.

These take place on:

Sundays and Wednesdays from 09.00 to 12.00hrs.

Legal Visits:

Solicitors and visiting IO's must be pre-booked by calling: 020 8283 3850 or online here. Legal visits can also be booked through the following email address: harvisits@geogroup.co.uk.

These take place between:

Time: 09.00 - 21.00

We advise you to download our information pack available here before visiting.

Travel Information

IRC Harmondsworth is easily reached by free public transport links from Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3, from Heathrow Terminal 5, and from Hatton Cross Underground Station.

The following public transport bus routes provide a service local to the Centre:

U3, 75, 81, 423, 441

GEO also operates a free mini bus service to and from IRC Harmondsworth.

HARMONDSWORTH IMMIGRATION REMOVAL CENTRE
Colnbrook Bypass, Longford, West Drayton, Middx, UB7 0HB
United Kingdom

Phone: 020 82833850
Fax: 020 82833851

Contract Award - 28/06/09
Current Contract - 28/06/09 - 28/07/14

Capacity - 615