Male detainees at Dungavel immigration removal centre in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, have been caught looking through the windows of women's bedrooms, according to a report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor. The report warns that female asylum seekers are being put at risk of harm.
Women Feel Unsafe and Restricted
Inspectors found that 43% of women at Dungavel feel unsafe in outside areas. Female migrants required staff escorts to move around the centre, while men had free movement. Some women reported never leaving the female unit unless absolutely necessary, and others were reluctant even when escorted.
One woman told inspectors: "We can(not) go outside because of the males and our time to do things are quick because of them."
Incidents of Harassment and Risk
During the inspection, male detainees were witnessed looking through women's bedroom windows, and a group of men approached to ask why they could not "mix with female detainees." The report also noted that the centre held a man assessed to pose a risk of harm to women at the time of the inspection, and another with impending prosecutions for sexual offences had been held there for over a year until shortly before.
Concerns about Dungavel were first raised in 2021 when Charlie Taylor warned that female detainees were forced to mix with men with a history of sexual violence due to Covid restrictions.
Criticism of Transfer Practices
The report also criticised staff for moving women across the country late at night. In some cases, women who were pregnant, physically unwell, or at risk of self-harm or suicide were transferred with "little regard for their health or the appropriateness of the transfer." One woman described the process as "psychological torture."
Inspectors found "concerning practices" around the use of handcuffs, including the handcuffing of a pregnant woman.
Statistics and Context
As of December 2025, Home Office figures show 119 women were being held in immigration removal centres and residential short-term holding facilities. The report highlights that women's experiences are still largely shaped by policies designed for men, due to the smaller number of female detainees.
Charlie Taylor said: "Far fewer women than men are held in immigration detention in the UK, and, as a result, their experiences are still largely shaped by policies designed for men. This report outlines where current processes fall short for women, but also what is working well. In the facilities we visited for this review, we found compassionate and committed staff working hard to support a complex population. We hope our findings will help the Home Office and its contractors continue to improve the support for these very vulnerable detainees."
