The Prisons’ Watchdog says, ‘Conditions have deteriorated at Yarl's Wood, an immigration removal centre, to such an extent that it is a place of national concern. Yarl's Wood, in Bedfordshire, was failing vulnerable and pregnant women. It holds 350+ women waiting for their immigration status to be resolved. The report suggests that conditions have worsened since being inspected two years ago. More than half of the detainees said they felt unsafe. Of the 99 pregnant women who were held there last year only nine were removed. Fifteen detainees had been held for between six months and a year. Four were detained for more than a year. The report called for a ‘strict time limit’ on how long anyone can be detained. Jerome Phelps, of Detention Action, said ‘It is time for the Government to step away from the routine detention of migrants, and instead to work with them to resolve their immigration cases in the community wherever possible.’