Safi

Safi Detention Centre (Safi Barracks)

Malta

Status

In use

2024

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Armed Forces of Malta/ Detention Service, Armed Forces of Malta/ Detention Service

Management: Detention Services (Governmental)

Detains: Adult women, Adult men, Unaccompanied minors, Asylum seekers (administrative), Asylum seekers-Dublin procedure (administrative), Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Conditions complaints?
1000
189

5 October 2023

YES

2023

Malta

1,705

Migration Detainees

380

Migration Detainee Entries

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ABOUT

"The largest detention centre [in Malta], holding applicants as well as rejected asylum-seekers and persons set to be removed from Malta. Although the main population is single men, Safi also has a section for unaccompanied children in the age assessment procedure and also a section for single women. Safi Barracks are the headquarters for the Armed Forces of Malta, so the area is a heavily militarised space. The spaces designed for detention, including meeting rooms, clinics and other buildings for administrative use, are generally metal containers whilst one zone is a building on two floors, with large, shared bedrooms. All areas have an outdoor fenced-in space"

NEWS & TESTIMONY
2023

“In 2023, a dedicated Female Section was opened in the Safi Detention Centre. However, it was never accessed or seen by NGOs or lawyers visiting the Centre. NGOs visiting detention noted that they were mostly unaware o [...]

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FACILITY NAMES
Safi Detention Centre (Safi Barracks)

Alternative Names: Saf Barracks / B Block / C Block / Warehouse

Location

Country: Malta

City & Region: Safi, Europe

Latitude, Longitude: 35.8334364962, 14.4903230667

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2024
In use
2023
In use
2022
In use
2020
In use
2019
In use
2018
In use
2017
In use
2015
In use
2014
In use
2009
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2018
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2013
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2009
National typology
Official Typology
Year
Detention center
2020
Management
Management
Type
Year
Detention Services
Governmental
2023
Armed Forced of Malta / Detention service
Governmental
2020
Armed Forces of Malta/ Detention Service
Governmental
2016
Detention Services
Governmental
2009
Custodial Authorities
Agency
Ministry
Ministry type
Year
Armed Forces of Malta/ Detention Service
Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security
Defence
2020
Armed Forces of Malta/ Detention Service
Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security
Defence
2016
Outsourced services and non-state actors
Provider
Service
Year
Private security company
Security
2020
James Caterer
Food services
2013
Jesuit Refugee Service
Social services
2013
Jesuit Refugee Service
Legal counselling
2013

DETAINEES

Demographics

Adult women

2024

Adult men

2024

Unaccompanied minors

2024

Adult women

2023

Adult men

2023

Unaccompanied minors

2023

Unaccompanied minors

2022

Adult men

2022

Accompanied minors

2021

Unaccompanied minors

2021

Adult women

2018

Adult men

2018

Adult men

2013

Adult men

2009
Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2024

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2024

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2023

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2018

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2018

Asylum seekers-Dublin procedure (administrative)

2018

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2013

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2013

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2009

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2009

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 1000

2020

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 200

2018

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 200

2016

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 134

2016

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 160

2013
Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
189
5 October 2023
200
22 September 2020
6
23 June 2015
124
2 September 2011
1080
1 January 2009

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2018

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2013

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Overall Inspection Score

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2024

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2023

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2022

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2021

Score Deficient (“Deficient” or “At Risk”)

2020
Inadequate conditions
Inadequate Conditions
Obvs. Date
2023
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
2018
2013
Reports of riots or other unrest

Reported riots or other unrest? Yes

2020

Reported riots or other unrest? Yes

2019

CARCERAL INDICATORS

Carceral Environment

Carceral Environment Yes

2024

Carceral Environment Yes

2023
Non-Carceral Child-Friendly Space

Non-Carceral Child-Friendly Space No

2023
Internal Security Regime

Security Level High Security (locked in cells all or most of time)

2023
External Security Regime

Security Level Secure

2018

Security Level Secure

2013

Security Level Secure

2009
Armed Internal Personnel

Armed Internal Personnel Yes

2020
Armed External Guards

Armed Guards? No

2013

STAFF

Specially Trained

Trained Personnel No

2023
Mistreatment Reports

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

2021

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

2020

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Gender Segregation Not Available

2018

Gender Segregation Not Applicable

2013
Legal Segregation

Legal Segregation Not Applicable

2018

Legal Segregation Not Applicable

2014

CELLS

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee No

2020
Security/Isolation Cells

Security/Isolation Cells Yes

2023

Security/Isolation Cells Yes

2021
Detainees Per Cell

Number 22

2020

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

Outdoor Space No

2020
Activities/Education for Children

Activities/Education for Children No

2023

HEALTH

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours)

Medical Screening upon Arrival (within 48 hours) Yes

2023
Doctor on Duty

Frequency Daily

2023
Nurse on Duty

Frequency At least once a week

2023

Frequency At least once a week

2020
Psychologist Visits

Frequency No regular visits

2023

Frequency At least once a week

2023
Inadequate health provisions
Inadequate Health Provisions
Obvs. Date
Psychological care
2023
Barriers to care
Barriers to Care
Obvs. Date
Inadequate translation servicesUse of solitary confinement
2023
Unsanitary/inadequate detention conditionsUse of solitary confinement
2021
Reports of self-harming
Self harm reported
Incident/Report date
Yes
Reports of Injury/Physical Harm
Injury/physical harm reported
Incident/Report date
Yes
January 2021
Health Impacts
Health Impacts
Obvs. Date
Physical abuse
2021
Covid-19 Measures
Measure
Implementation
Obvs. Date
Vaccinations
Yes
Detainee Social Distancing or Isolation
Partially
COVID Testing
Yes
2020

MONITORING & ACCESS

Lawyer Access

Lawyer Access No

2024

Lawyer Access No

2023
Monitors & Civil Society Access
Access?
Type of Institution
Year
No
National non-governmental groups
2024
No
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
2024
No
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
2023
No
National non-governmental groups
2023
No
International Organization for Migration
2023
Yes
National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT
2023
No
National non-governmental groups
2022
No
National non-governmental groups
2021
No
National non-governmental groups
2020
Yes
National non-governmental groups
2018
Yes
National Preventive Mechanism under OPCAT
2018
Family Access

Family Access Infrequently

2023

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Access to Telephones

Access to Telephones Limited

2023

Access to Telephones Limited

2023

Access to Telephones Limited

2020
Free Outgoing Local Calls

Free Outgoing Local Calls Limited

2023
Internet Access

Internet Access No

2023

Internet Access Yes (with restrictions)

2020
Access to Personal Cell Phones

Access to Personal Cell Phones No

2023

Access to Personal Cell Phones No

2020

NEWS & TESTIMONY

2023

“In 2023, a dedicated Female Section was opened in the Safi Detention Centre. However, it was never accessed or seen by NGOs or lawyers visiting the Centre. NGOs visiting detention noted that they were mostly unaware of the presence of women in detention. Newly-arrived single women were hardly ever detained in Safi Barracks, the detained women generally being those arrested on the territory with a view to their removal. No information of their presence in Safi was formally provided to NGOs, and they were not referred to NGOs for the provision of services.”