Braverman stopped immigration centre inspections despite safeguarding warnings

Inspector reveals home secretary's decision as Brook House inquiry finds evidence of verbal and physical abuse

• I warned ministers about our disgraceful UK detention centres. Their solution? Stop the inspections - David Neal

Suella Braverman halted annual inspections of immigration detention centres such as Brook House last year, shortly after ministers received direct warnings that vulnerable people including torture victims had been left unprotected, the immigration watchdog has disclosed.

In an article for the Guardian, David Neal, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration (ICIBI), said the home secretary stopped his annual review of adults at risk" held in removal centres last September.