An inquest jury has concluded that “multiple failings” at the Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre contributed to the tragic death of Colombian national, Frank Ospina, who took his own life in 2023. Ospina, who had arrived in the UK in 2022 to visit his mother and explore postgraduate education opportunities, was detained after being arrested for working without the legal right.
The jury’s findings pointed to a series of critical errors, including a failure by medical staff to file a mandatory “rule 35.2 report,” which is required when a detainee is at risk of self-harm or suicide. This omission, they noted, likely contributed to Ospina’s death.
“If the report had been submitted, Ospina’s case might have been reviewed, potentially leading to his release,” the jury stated.
Ospina’s mental health had worsened during his time at the center, and on March 26, 2023, he was found dead, having strangled himself. His family revealed that he had expressed a desire to leave the UK voluntarily and had repeatedly asked for help from both his family and detention staff.
“He begged for assistance. His mental state was very bad,” said Ospina’s brother-in-law, Julian Llano.
The jury also criticized the detention center’s practice of separating Ospina from his mother during visits, which involved a glass wall. They described the arrangement as “inappropriate and unnecessary,” adding that it worsened his mental state.
Further failings were identified in the inadequate checks carried out by staff on the night of Ospina’s death, during which they failed to notice that he was not in his bed.
Following the inquest, the Home Office expressed condolences to Ospina’s family and emphasized that steps had been taken to improve detention conditions. A spokesperson stated, “We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Ospina’s loved ones. Since his death in 2023, a number of actions have been taken to improve the safeguards for individuals in detention, including increasing staffing numbers and providing better training and guidance.”
Mitie, the company managing the detention center, also apologized, admitting that placing Ospina’s family in a closed room for visits was wrong. “We accept that the decision was not in accordance with our policies and procedures, and we have apologized for this,” a spokesperson said.
