Residents spend too long indoors, the report says

Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said conditions in the short-term wings at facilities in London, Solihull and Liverpool needed to be improved.

Her report said detainees at Colnbrook, west London, spent unacceptably long periods of time locked in single rooms.

The Home Office said an action plan was being drawn up to make improvements.

Ms Owers's report focused on four holding facilities at Colnbrook, Sandford House in Solihull, and Liverpool's Reliance House and John Lennon Airport.

Short-term holding facilities are intended to accommodate people for very brief periods of time Liam Byrne Home Office minister

The facilities are used to hold people for a maximum of seven days immediately after their detention by the UK Immigration Service. Some are then transferred to long-term centres.

Inspectors found there was a lack of information and independent advice for people at Colnbrook which has 40 places.

But the report said detainees did have access to healthcare, welfare and race relations support which was not always available in other centres.

It added that staff at the three centres in Liverpool and Solihull needed more training in the care and protection of children.

The report said the facilities also required re-organising for a mixed population.

Ms Owers said: "Accommodation still remains inadequate in many centres and the needs of detainees in relation to healthcare, information and advice, and preparations for release, are not yet sufficiently met."

Home Office minister Liam Byrne said action was being taken to address the issues highlighted by the report.