Eighty asylum seekers detained in preparation for being returned to France under the UK government’s controversial “one in, one out” scheme have called on UN bodies to investigate their treatment, claiming they have suffered “fear, humiliation and psychological distress” at the hands of the Home Office since arriving in the UK in small boats.
The detainees have compiled a document, “Report on conditions and treatment at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre”, which claims they have been treated unjustly by the Home Office since arriving in the UK on small boats. Harmondsworth is one of two detention centres close to Heathrow airport in London.
The asylum seekers, who come from a variety of conflict zones including Sudan, Afghanistan and Iran, accuse the Home Office of subjecting them to arbitrary detention, denial of legal representation, inadequate medical care, degrading treatment and severe psychological harm. They say they came to UK “in the pursuit of safety, dignity and a chance to live a peaceful life”.
They are calling on the UN and human rights groups to urgently investigate conditions that people detained for deportation under the “one in, one out” scheme are held in.
The report’s circulation coincides with new government powers coming into force to seize mobile phones carried by people who arrive in the UK on small boats to examine them for information about people smugglers. One offence that under the new powers could lead to a sentence of up to five years in jail is “collecting information that is of use to those planning an illegal crossing”, which could include checking the weather forecast to identify favourable times to cross the Channel.
Despite a series of measures to tackle people-smuggling gangs using small boats to bring asylum seekers to the UK since Labour came to power, 2025 had the second-highest number of crossings on record with more than 41,000 people reaching the UK on small boats.
According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of deaths among those in northern France hoping to reach UK was significantly lower than in 2024 despite the increase in crossings. More than 36,000 crossed in 2024 and at least 85 deaths were recorded, while 36 deaths were documented in 2025.
The first return flight to France of 2026 under the “one in, one out” scheme is due on Wednesday. According to the most recent figures issued by the Home Office, 193 people have been sent to France in the first three months of the scheme, while in turn 195 have been brought here legally. This represents less than a quarter of the 803 people who crossed the Channel in small boats in a single day on 20 December.
According to the report, detainees say they were not given sufficient time to rest, recover or receive psychological support following traumatic journeys and their Home Office interview, with some not having seen or spoken to their families since detention began.
They add that along with not receiving adequate medical treatment for a range of physical ailments, the psychological impact of detention has been profound. The report states: “Many detainees are young adults between the ages of 17 and 30. Detainees report widespread depression, anxiety, insomnia, and emotional breakdowns.
“There have been multiple incidents involving individuals experiencing severe mental health crises, including self-harm attempts. Detainees report being placed in isolation or disciplinary units. This environment has created constant fear, despair, and uncertainty, with detainees expressing that they feel dehumanised and invisible.”
The detainees say their treatment since arriving in the UK violates fundamental principles of human rights, dignity and due process and amounts to being punished for seeking protection. “The authors of this report ask not for privilege, but for fairness, humanity, and freedom. They ask to be seen, heard, and treated as human beings,” the report states.
The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, said: “In line with our mandate, UNHCR can play a constructive role in supporting the development and implementation of international arrangements concerning the transfer of refugees and asylum seekers – including the UK–France pilot.
“We welcome ongoing engagement with both governments aimed at ensuring that any such arrangements uphold international protection standards, are viable at scale, and ultimately contribute to strengthened refugee protection and the rights‑based management of movements. In the UK, this includes visits to the immigration removal centres and ongoing dialogue with the Home Office.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do not recognise the claims relating to conditions at Harmondsworth. We regard the welfare of people detained in our care as being of utmost importance.
“Protecting the UK border is our top priority. Our landmark one in, one out scheme means we can now send those who arrive on small boats straight back to France – striking at the heart of the criminal gangs’ business model.”
