Please take the time to read this report of the inquest hearing into the death of 85 year old Canadian Alois Dvorak in immigration detention. It was a shocking case and it illustrates the importance of safeguards. Sometimes it takes the suffering of a middle class white person for other middle class white people to understand these things.
The verdict will certainly be interesting.
In the meantime, a selection of tweets from Phil Miller, who is observing the inquest. Some of them are very revealing about the mindset of those responsible for the welfare of immigration detainees as well as issues around staffing.
Acting centre manager Sidhu: "I might not have been as experienced as I should have been"
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Sidhu on handcuffing in detention "such a routine occurrence I wouldn't even think about it & not question Geo's policy on that"
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
30 jan. Dr Jarral made Sidhu (HO centre manager) aware Dvorzak wasn't fit for detention. 10 Feb Dvorzak dies.
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Sidhu, Acting Home Office manager at Harmondsworth, told Alois Dvorzak inquest she had "no understanding" of Mental Health Act assessment
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
When healthcare manager first saw Alois Dvorzak on the ward "he was in the corner with his hat on, curled up and very quiet."
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Coroner: MHA assessment had been requested (i.e. requires psychiatric doctor). But a Mental Health nurse saw Alois Dvorzak instead.
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Harmondsworth healthcare manger said “He was a frail elderly gentleman, he was clearly vulnerable, it was just not the right place for him."
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Michael Langran, Chief immigration officer at Gatwic, was Dvorzak's case worker after he came back form East Surrey Hospital into H'Worth
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Langran, Dvorzak's case worker told inquest "Everyone who had ever dealt with him deemed him unfit for detention."
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Langran: "We were all of opinion that he was unfit for detention but there was no alternative."
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Langran aimed to remove Dvorzak with medical escorts, police to meet him in Canada and find new care home for him.
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Caseworker knew Dvorzak unfit for detention but "there was no alternative. This was the only place we had where he could be looked after."
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Jatinder Kaur Harmondsworth centre manager “There were staff shortages that caused delay" in Dr Jarral's rule 35 report going to caseworker
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Firat Loveridge, was Geo's duty operations manager with day to day running entirety of Harmondsworth
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Geo provide security escort. Loveridge knew Dvorzak (84) been to hospital before. He was handcuffed on first occasion and on this occasion.
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Loveridge: Security put in bit [in paperwork] about escape but I didn't see a threat to anyone once escaped. First saw him seated in ambo
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Coroner: did he need handcuffs? Loveridge: To be honest, no. When I'm reading the paperwork and then I see him it is a bit different.
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Geo's Loveridge: "On the night shift I'm the only one in the building in a managerial position." Let 84yo Dvorzak go handcuffed to hospital
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
Loveridge: Dvorzak went to hospital with 2 escorts who could have challenged handcuffs.
— Phil Miller (@pmillerinfo) October 21, 2015
