ORCID
- Tristan Price: 0000-0002-2135-6212
Abstract
BackgroundImmigration Removal Centres (IRCs) are used to detain people for immigration control by the UK government. This scoping review aims to examine the experiences of detainees within UK IRCs, specifically how conditions within them, including the regime, affect their mental wellbeing.MethodsThe Joanna Briggs Institute guideline for scoping reviews was followed. Six bibliographic databases and additional grey literature sources were searched for quantitative and qualitative evidence. Descriptive analyses and quality assessments were conducted.ResultsFifteen research studies and nine pieces of grey literature were included, comprising a total of 1353 participants and 11 IRCs. The majority of data was qualitative in methodology and published after 2015. Main findings from articles were charted according to Maslow’s (1943) Hierarchy of Needs, revealing persistent failings across all dimensions (physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization). The regime within the IRCs as well as the psychosocial environment led to emotional distress and feelings of disempowerment, dehumanization, and criminality.ConclusionsThis review highlights the negative impact of IRCs within the UK on the mental wellbeing of detainees and the need for urgent policy reform. Changes addressing temporal uncertainty of detention and use of community-based settings are proposed for UK governmental review.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2026-09-01
Publication Title
Journal of Public Health
Volume
48
Issue
3
ISSN
1741-3842
Acceptance Date
2026-05-24
Deposit Date
2026-07-14
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Keywords
Mental health, Migration, Public health, Prisoners/psychology, Humans, Emigration and Immigration/legislation & jurisprudence, United Kingdom, Emigrants and Immigrants/psychology, Mental Health, Psychological Well-Being
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Gallagher, N., Price, T., & Griggs, M. (2026) 'How conditions within immigration removal centres in the United Kingdom affect the mental wellbeing of detainees: a scoping review', Journal of Public Health, 48(3). Available at: 10.1093/pubmed/fdag044
