Report of the inquiry into the disturbance and fire at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre

Only three months after opening there was a riot and fire that destroyed half of the Yarl's Wood Removal Centre.

This report tells the story of what happened and places it in a wider policy context; especially the question of how much risk can be transferred when there is a contract for services between the public and private sector.

It concludes that an ambitious and ultimately, unachievable policy on removals was promulgated.

It required a new type of building that was commissioned at record pace but was not fit for purpose.

This meant that the mishandling of an everyday incident was only the spark and not the fundamental cause.

There was always the potential for a disturbance. The events at Yarl's Wood have had a cathartic effect on immigration estate and there has been millions of pounds-worth of remedial work and new centre at Colnbrook with more robust specifications.