Tinsley House IRC

Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) is an administrative detention facility located on the south perimeter of Gatwick Airport in West Sussex. Opened in 1996, it holds the distinction of being the first purpose-built immigration detention centre in the UK.

Context & Operations: The centre is used to detain single adult men and, within a separate specialized pre-departure unit, families facing imminent deportation. Individuals held at Tinsley House are detained under administrative immigration powers rather than criminal law. Because it is a purpose-built facility rather than a converted hotel, it operates with prison-style infrastructure, where detainees are locked in accommodation corridors overnight but have access to communal areas during the day.

Funding & Contractors: The facility is entirely funded by the UK central government through the Home Office. The day-to-day operations, healthcare access, and security management are contracted out to the private security firm Serco.