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<p>We are making good progress with an ambitious and systematic programme of immigration
detention reform, at the heart of which is a Government commitment, over time, to
secure a material reduction in the number of people detained and the length of time
they spend in detention, coupled with improved welfare for detainees and a culture
that maintains the highest standards of professionalism.</p><p> </p><p>As part of
this reform, we are maximising the use of existing alternatives to detention and exploring
new approaches including a current pilot to support vulnerable women in the community
who would otherwise be detained at Yarl’s Wood.</p><p> </p><p>We are progressing these
priorities all while continuing to tackle abuse of the immigration system. The immigration
estate is safer, more secure, and almost 40 per cent smaller than in 2015, with only
four per cent of individuals detained for more than four months, and only two per
cent of individuals detained for more than six months in year ending December 2019.
Detention only exceeds these timescales in the most complex cases, almost always where
serious and/or persistent criminality is involved.</p><p> </p><p>Reducing instances
of when the Courts find that we have unlawfully detained an individual is a priority.
Often, an initial decision to detain will be appropriate, before a change in the individual’s
circumstances undermines this decision. As part of our response to the Home Affairs
Committee immigration detention report, the Home Office has begun a programme of work
focused on litigation outcomes to ensure that best practice is shared, that lessons
are learned, and that we reduce instances of unlawful detention.</p>
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