Ħal Far

Ħal Far Immigration Reception Centre (Hal Far)

Status

In use

2023

Type: Secure reception centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Minister for Home Affairs

Management: Detention Services (Governmental)

Detains: Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
350
188

22 September 2020

No Data
Malta

1,695

Apprehensions of Non-Citizens

130

Detained Unaccompanied Children

To country overview

The Hal Far immigration Reception Centre opened in 2020 to serve as an "initial' reception site for boat arrivals. According to the Aditus Foundation, it is "used mainly to detain newly arrived asylum seekers under quarantine until they are medically cleared by the Health Authorities." The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) reported in 2020 that 'living conditions [at Hal Far] may well amount to inhuman and degrading treatment contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights."Comprised of "three zones (A, B and C) in a two-storey building, the CPT found that dormitories in Zones A and C measured 21m2 each and were equipped with six sets of bunk beds (i.e. 12 beds); dormitories of such a size should not accommodate more than five persons. Not all of the rooms had access to adequate natural light and sufficient artificial lighting and ventilation Some of the bathrooms had no doors and, at the time of the delegation’s visit, some of the showers and wash basins were blocked in Zones C and B and flooded the bathroom floors when used, which had allegedly caused some migrants to slip and injure themselves. ... There was no regime of activities in China House. Many of the detained migrants underlined that they had no access any purposeful activities, no television, no access to the telephone, and were not offered access to the single exercise yard. Migrants spent 24 hours per day locked on their units with nothing to structure their days for months on end."

FACILITY NAMES
Ħal Far Immigration Reception Centre (Hal Far)

Alternative Names: China House

Location

Country: Malta

City & Region: Ħal Far, Europe

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status

Status In use

2023

Status In use

2020

Status Closed/ceased migrant detention

2016

Status In use

1995
Facility type

Category Filter Administrative

Type Secure reception centre

1995
National typology

Name Initial Reception Centre

Management

Name Detention Services

Type Governmental

2023
Operating Period

Year of Entry 2020

DETAINEES

Categories of detainees

Name Undocumented migrants (administrative)

1995

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 350

2023

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 243

2020
Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
188
22 September 2020

LENGTH OF DETENTION

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

CARCERAL INDICATORS

External Security Regime

Secure

1995

STAFF

SEGREGATION

CELLS

Detainees Per Cell

5

2020

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

No

2020
Activities/Education for Children

No

2020

HEALTH

Nurse on Duty

At least once a week

2020

MONITORING & ACCESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Access to Telephones

No

2020