An inspection report says migrants selected for deportation to France under the “one in, one out” scheme were anxious and upset after being taken to Tinsley House detention centre, having expected to stay in hotels. The report says many did not know what would happen to them in France, and some described stress, depression and disrupted sleep.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said Home Office checks to identify highly vulnerable men were too slow and insufficiently thorough. More than half of detainees were eventually released, prompting questions about the cost of detaining them; the report also said the centre should do more to encourage people, particularly those with poor mental health, to take part in activities. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said returns under the scheme cost £56,000 per person and more than 1,400 migrants had been deported; she described the numbers as relatively small and scaling up removals as difficult.