The Home Office has initiated recruitment for staff ahead of the planned reopening of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre near Gosport, Hampshire. Job postings for seven detention engagement officers, each offering salaries close to £35,000, have been published. These officers will be responsible for supporting the welfare of individuals detained at the centre prior to deportation.

Haslar Immigration Removal Centre, which closed approximately ten years ago, is slated for expansion to accommodate up to 600 detainees. The reopening and enlargement of the facility have drawn criticism from various groups opposed to the government’s immigration policies. In response, an official inquiry into the reopening plans is scheduled to commence in November.

The job advertisement emphasizes that the role of detention engagement officers includes varied responsibilities, indicating that daily tasks will differ. The move is part of the Home Office’s broader efforts to manage immigration detention capacity amid ongoing debates about the use of such centres in the UK immigration system.