Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, in response to the reported death of a woman at Yarl’s Wood, has called on the Home Secretary to urgently investigate the standards and safeguards in place to protect detainees at the detention centre

Yvette Cooper MP said:

“The news that a 40 year old detainee died yesterday in Yarl’s Wood is extremely sad and our thoughts and sympathy are with her family and friends.

"The Police investigation must include looking into unconfirmed reports that the detainee was initially denied medical assistance.

"Ministers also need to look into claims that Yarl’s Wood has turned down offers of help from the local NHS for other woman detainees who were distressed after witnessing her death.

"We also need answers over the deeply disturbing reports last year of sexual abuse and bullying of vulnerable women by staff in the detention centre and claims from the Prisons Inspectorate that women who have been trafficked and abused are still being detained here. We are yet to see the results of the investigation into either issue.

"The Home Secretary needs to commission a joint inquiry by the Prisons Inspectorate and the Borders Inspectorate into operations at Yarl’s Wood - covering medical support, abuse allegations and detention policy.

"We all agree immigration rules must be enforced and that includes deportations and, for some people, temporary detention. But it must be done humanely with high standards and safeguards in place."