Dover's "Forgotten Fortress" on the Western Heights - HM Immigration Removal Centre (Dover)

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First given earthworks in 1779, the high ground west of Dover, England now called Dover Western Heights, was properly fortified in 1804 when Lieutenant-Colonel William Twiss built the Citadel at the western end, North Centre Bastion to the north, and Drop Redoubt overlooking the town. The unique triple spiral staircase, the Grand Shaft linked barracks on the hill to the town below. At the far west are the Outer workings and what is locally known as the Citadel Barracks. Next to the barracks is a Victorian gun battery called Citadel Battery; and behind this lie the remains of the mine field control.

Much of the site is open as a country park. The barracks have been demolished; the Grand Shaft is only open occasionally; and the Citadel has been a Young Offenders' Institution - and is now an Immigration Removal Centre and so is off limits.

Here's a link to the current Google Earth file:
bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=878585

Images of specific features on the Western Heights:

Drop Redoubt
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/Drop%20Redoubt

Knights Templar Church (Remains)
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/Knights%20Templar

North Centre Bastion
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/North%20Center%20Bas...

North Entrance
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/North%20Entrance

St Martin's Battery
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/St%20Martins%20Batte...

The Grand Shaft
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/Grand%20Shaft

Western Heights (All)
www.panoramio.com/user/250345/tags/Western%20Heights

The Western Heights on which the Centre is situated has been a fortified area since Roman times. The present buildings occupy the site of fortifications commenced in Napoleonic times to counter the threat of a French invasion. Dover is an English Heritage site.

The Prison Commission took over the site from the Army in 1952 when work began on converting the fortress into a prison. In 1957 it was decided that the establishment should become a Borstal, and Dover continued to hold young offenders as a Borstal, YCC and then YOI until April 2002.

In April 2002 Dover was re-designated as an Immigration Removal Centre operating under Detention Centre Rules 2001. Dover continues to be run by the Prison Service holding appellant and failed asylum seekers in secure conditions for the Immigration Service. It is used as a national resource holding male adult detainees aged 18 years and over allocated by the Detainee Population Management Unit based at Feltham, London. An Immigration Team led by a Chief Immigration Officer is based on site liaising between the Management of Detained Cases Unit in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and the detainees.

Centre Manager: Jim Carmichael

Statement of Purpose: The purpose of Dover Immigration removal Centre shall be to provide for the secure but humane accommodation of detained persons in a relaxed regime with as much freedom of movement and association as possible, consistent with providing a safe and secure environment, and to encourage and assist detained persons to make the most productive use of their time, whilst respecting in particular their dignity and right to individual expression.

Accommodation: The Centre consists of five living units - Deal, Sandwich, Romney, Rye and Hastings - and one small separation unit named Hythe. Much of the accommodation comprises six bed dormitories although there are also single and double rooms. All living accommodation has access to discrete integral sanitation, power supply and televisions. Numerous telephones for incoming and outgoing calls are available throughout the Centre, and pagers are issued to detainees to ensure their prompt notification of incoming calls. A range of recreational activities are provided in the association areas on each of the units and lock-up periods are kept to a minimum. Most Units have quiet prayer rooms.

Operational capacity: 316 as of 18th October 2006

Reception criteria: An Immigration Services Manager and team are based on site to liaise between the Management of Detained Cases Unit, the Port Authorities and detainees. They see all new detainees and deal with applications on a daily basis. Regular up-dates are provided to detainees on the status of their cases. They can be contacted via the main Centre address.