The Detention Centre Rules 2001

PART IVOFFICERS OF DETENTION CENTRES

General duty of officers

45.—(1) It shall be the duty of every officer to conform to these Rules and the rules and regulations of the detention centre, to assist and support the manager in their maintenance and to obey his lawful instructions.

(2) An officer shall inform the manager and the Secretary of State promptly of any abuse or impropriety which comes to his knowledge.

(3) Detainee custody officers exercising custodial functions shall pay special attention to their duty under paragraph 2(3)(d) of Schedule 11 to the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to attend to the well-being of detained persons.

(4) Detainee custody officers shall notify the health care team of any concern they have about the physical or mental health of a detainee.

(5) In managing detained persons, all officers shall seek by their own example and leadership to enlist their willing co-operation.

(6) At all times the treatment of detained persons shall be such as to encourage their self-respect, a sense of personal responsibility and tolerance towards others.

Gratuities forbidden

46.  No officer shall receive any unauthorised fee, gratuity or other consideration in connection with his office.

Transactions with detained persons

47.—(1) No officer shall take part in any business or pecuniary transaction with or on behalf of a detained person without the leave of the Secretary of State.

(2) No officer shall without authority bring in or take out, or attempt to bring in or take out, or knowingly allow to be brought in or taken out, to or for a detained person, or deposit in any place with intent that it shall come into the possession of a detained person, any article whatsoever.

Contract monitor

48.—(1) The contract monitor at each contracted-out detention centre must investigate promptly any complaint made against any officer at that centre.

(2) Paragraph (1) is without prejudice to the duties of the contract monitor under section 149(7) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Contractors' staff

49.  All contractors' staff employed at the detention centre shall facilitate the exercise by the contract monitor of his functions.

Search of officers

50.  An officer shall submit himself to be searched in the detention centre if the manager so directs. Any such search shall be conducted in as seemly a manner as is consistent with discovering anything concealed.

Contact with former detained persons

51.  No officer shall, without the authority of the Secretary of State, communicate with any person whom he knows to be a former detained person or a relative or friend of a detained person or former detained person in such a way as could compromise that officer in the execution of his duty or the safety, security or control of the centre.

Communication with the press

52.—(1) No officer shall make, directly or indirectly, any unauthorised communication to a representative of the press or any other person concerning matters which have become known to him in the course of his duty.

(2) No officer shall, without authority, publish any matter or make any public pronouncement relating to the administration of any detention centre, short-term holding facility or prison or to any detained persons accommodated there.