Psychiatric reports for immigration detention and Rule 35

Independent consultant psychiatrists assess detained clients for release, bail and detention claims.

  • CV, quotation and availability
  • Legal aid accepted
  • Assessment in detention or by video
  • Urgent cases prioritised
Find an Expert Now Call 0121 752 6061

GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists · Assessments across the UK

Independent evidence for detained clients

A Rule 35 report is written by the doctor at the removal centre. Our consultant psychiatrists provide a separate, independent report on your client’s mental health, the harm detention is causing or is likely to cause, and the care your client needs.

The report can support a request for release, a bail application, a detention review or a claim for unlawful detention.

Questions our psychiatrists answer

  • Diagnosis and the effect detention is having on your client’s mental health
  • Whether continued detention is likely to cause harm
  • Suicide and self-harm risk in detention
  • Whether the clinical findings are consistent with an account of torture
  • Fitness to be detained and the care your client needs
  • Fitness to fly, if removal is planned (see fitness to fly assessments)

Evidence of torture

Where your client says they were tortured, the report can document the psychological findings to the Istanbul Protocol. See Istanbul Protocol reports.

Your expert

We propose a consultant psychiatrist with experience of assessing detained clients. Our experts are GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists who maintain professional indemnity cover.

What an independent report adds

Detention decisions turn on evidence of harm and vulnerability. The report gives it.

  • Separate from Rule 35

    Independent evidence, separate from the centre doctor’s Rule 35 report.

  • Harm from detention

    Whether continued detention is likely to make your client’s condition worse.

  • Risk in detention

    Suicide and self-harm risk while detained and around any planned removal.

  • Records reviewed

    The centre’s healthcare records and any Rule 35 report are read and addressed.

A psychiatric report for a detained client

Send us the case details and we will come back with the proposed expert’s CV, quotation and availability.

Find an Expert Now Call 0121 752 6061

Common questions

Who writes a Rule 35 report, and what does your report add?

The doctor at the removal centre writes the Rule 35 report. Our consultant psychiatrists provide a separate, independent opinion on your client’s mental health, the risk detention carries and the care they need.

Can you assess my client in immigration detention?

Yes. Our experts assess clients in person or by secure video, including clients held in immigration detention, so please include your client’s location in the enquiry.

How quickly can a detention assessment be arranged?

Urgent and detention matters are prioritised, and we confirm the assessment date and report deadline before you instruct. No fixed turnaround is promised until we have reviewed the records, the complexity of the case and expert availability.

Will the report help with bail or a detention review?

Yes. It can support a bail application, a request for release or a detention review, and later a claim for unlawful detention.

Do you accept legal aid?

Yes, we accept legally aided cases. We provide an itemised quotation and the proposed expert’s CV for your request to extend the disbursement limit or your prior authority application, or for prior approval from the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Other immigration reports

Further reading

Instruct a psychiatrist for a detained client

Send us the case details and we will come back with the proposed expert’s CV, quotation and availability.

Find an Expert Now Call 0121 752 6061