Haslar immmigration removal centre

Address and contact information

Haslar immigration removal centre
2 Dolphin Way
Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 2AW

Telephone and fax

Tel: 023 9260 4000
Fax: 023 9260 4001
Fax: caseworking - 023 9260 4580

Description

Haslar immigration removal centre (IRC) holds adult males aged 18 and over who have been detained under the Immigration Act by the UK Border Agency. It was re-designated as a removal centre and began operating under the detention centre rules in February 2002, but has held immigration detainees since 1989. It is currently operated by the HM Prison Service under a service level agreement.

Centre manager: Paul Millet

UK Border Agency manager Duncan Partridge

Reception times

Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 20:00

Saturday and Sunday, 08:00 to 16:00

Bed spaces: 160 male beds

Facilities

The education department at Haslar IRC offers a diverse range of courses including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), computer hardware, food hygiene, health and safety, business skills, IT, and art. All courses offer accredited qualifications.

The art classes give detainees the opportunity to display their artwork around the centre and at local exhibitions. The department is open 4½ days and 3 evenings per week. The contract is managed by Highbury College.

Haslar is an active participant in the music in detention programme, enabling detainees to experience and participate in the music of many different cultures. To support this, a music classroom was recently built into the facilities.

The library at Haslar stocks books in more than 40 languages, and a choice of foreign newspapers and magazines. Music cassettes, CDs, videos and DVDs in a range of languages can be borrowed. The library is open every weekday and is run by Hampshire County Council, which provides a professional librarian for each session. The library also provides a popular listening room.

The physical education department provides a range of activities and courses, catering for both detainees and staff. Occasional sporting fixtures are arranged between the detainees and staff and with other establishments. Other highlights are the annual five-a-side tournament, and the 10km run, both of which attract entries from the wider community. The facilities include a weights and cardio-vascular suite, a resistance exercise room, a sports hall, 2 5-a-side pitches, a full-size football pitch, an artificial cricket wicket and an outdoor running area.

Haslar is a very active multi-faith community and can cater for all faiths. Two quiet prayer rooms are available at all times, with Muslims and Christians meeting regularly every day. Other worship facilities are also available when needed. A full-time Christian chaplain is supported by a regular Imam and sectional support from Buddhist, Christian and Hindu ministers. Volunteers from a local Sikh Gurdwara also visit regularly. Haslar celebrates many religious festivals, and special arrangements are in place for Ramadan, Devali and Christmas, among others.

Haslar holds family days 4 times a year, always during school holiday periods. These enable families to visit the centre, eat together, and participate together in activities. Please contact the centre for details of the next planned day.

Haslar has a welfare officer who assists detainees with issues outside the centre. The requirements of detention mean that it is not possible for detainees to conduct affairs in the community in a normal manner. This can include matters which have a direct bearing on their detention, their immigration case and their release or removal from the UK. The welfare officer is available on weekdays between 09:00 and 16:00. Members of the public can phone the welfare officer on (023) 9260 4239 if they would like help with any issues. Legal support for detainees is available via the welfare office, with surgeries provided by the Refugee Legal Centre, Citizens Advice, and Bail for Immigration Detainees.

A small shop is available for detainees to buy items such as toiletries, biscuits, sweets and soft drinks every weekday except Wednesday mornings. Opening times vary, depending on staffing levels.

Medical care is provided in an on-site healthcare centre, which houses the nursing staff. Healthcare provision is available from 08:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 17:00 at weekends.

An on-call doctor arrives every morning except on Sundays and public holidays. The doctor initially deals with the previous day's receptions, and then other cases by appointment.

A dental suite is staffed by an external dentist who provides weekday cover by appointment. Emergency dental treatment is also available.

Volunteer scheme

Haslar offers a number of volunteer positions within the centre, enabling detainees to provide assistance in education, the gym, the laundry, additional cleaning services and the kitchen - including cooking speciality dishes for the centre.

Directions

Car
From the M27, exit at junction 11 and follow signs for Gosport and the A32 for about 4 miles. You will approach 2 roundabouts. Go straight across the 1st roundabout and take the 3rd exit on the 2nd roundabout onto Military Road. Take the 2nd exit on the next roundabout, Gomer Lane. This is 1 exit past the signpost for the centre. (The official signs will take you through the town's one-way system.) Take the first exit on the next roundabout. This will take you along the sea front to a small roundabout. Take the second exit, Fort Road. Dolphin Way is on the right along this road.

Parking
Parking in Dolphin Way is usually impossible. As you go down Fort Road, past the golf course on your right, you will see a small stone tower on your right. This is at the entrance to a public car park area (rough ground). Alternatively, park along the road. You will see the big green fence of our sports field on the right. Follow this until you arrive at Dolphin Way. As you walk up Dolphin Way, you will find the gate house on your right. Please report here.

Train
The nearest railway station is Portsmouth Harbour, with trains from both London Waterloo and London Victoria. Waterloo offers both fast and slow services.

Turn left out of the station to catch the cross-harbour ferry service to Gosport Town. It takes about 5 minutes and departs approximately every 10-15 minutes. Return ticket machines are on the quayside, but exact change is required. On arrival in Gosport, it is easiest to take a taxi from the taxi rank, although buses (29 and 30) are also available (1 per hour). If you are travelling by bus, ask for the QinetiQ (pronounced 'kinetic') stop. The total time to allow is approx 2½ hours from London.

National Express coach
Arrive at The Hard, Portsmouth Harbour, which is adjacent to Portsmouth Harbour railway station. Please follow information as for the train services for further directions.

Social visits

Social and legal visiting times are as follows:

Day of visit	Visit sessions	Start time	Finishing time	Last admission
Monday	PM only	14:00	16:00	15:30
Tuesday	PM only	14:00	16:00	15:30
Wednesday	All day	09:30	19:45	19:15
Thursday	All day	09:30	19:45	19:15
Friday	PM only	14:00	16:00	15:30
Saturday	PM only	14:00	16:00	15:30
Sunday	PM only	14:00	16:00	15:30

No booking is required. Please come to the gate with proof of identity and ask to see your detainee. You cannot visit without proof of identity. Valid identity documents include 1 of the following:

• passport
• EC identity card
• driving licence
• benefits book
• ARC card

OR 2 of the following:

• birth or marriage certificate
• rail or bus pass with photo
• cheque book or credit/debit card
• employer's pass or identification (a student identity card is not acceptable)
• young person's 'proof of age' card
• trade union or National Union of Students membership card
• library card, if it has a signature
• foreign identity or resident's card

Please note that:

• all visitors are subject to search
• last admissions are 30 minutes before the session ends
• detainees may receive only money and newspapers through visits
• on Wednesdays and Thursdays, sandwiches may be ordered on arrival for visitors and detainees
• once visitors have arrived, they cannot leave the visits area and return again.

Legal and official visits

Legal visits must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Please phone 023 9260 4204.

Please note that:

• legal visitors require proof of identity - in addition to the list above, they must provide a letter of introduction stating the detainee's name and the visit's unique reference number (which was given to them when they booked the visit)
• laptops may be used in the visits hall, but using battery power only and not to connect to the internet
• official visitors (including medical practitioners) may use a UK government identity card or pass
• UK Border Agency staff who want to arrange an interview in legal visits must ensure that official notification is faxed in advance to the centre, if they intend to bring a camera or fingerprint equipment into the centre. The fax should be sent to legal visits / security manager on (023) 9260 4001

Other information

Detention services now operate a policy which restricts the amount of baggage detainees can have in the centre.