A controversial Lanarkshire immigration detention centre was praised following a visit from HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre near Strathaven was found to "deliver some of the best outcomes for immigration detainees" - but a warning was given over low morale and understaffing.
Red flags were also raised over some detainees being held too long, including at risk adults and people whom the Home Office had itself accepted were victims of torture.
Inspectors visited Dungavel, which now houses men and some women, earlier this year and noted that it had been substantially refurbished and redecorated.
Dungavel was assessed to have remained fundamentally safe, providing a relaxed and calm environment where levels of violence were very low.
However, Charlie Taylor from HMIP, said: “Some detainees with a history of violence against women were held during the pandemic, which meant that detained women had to be escorted around the site.”
The Inspectorate recommended to the Home Office that detainees who pose risks to women should not be held in a centre with a mixed population.
Mr Taylor said that at the time of the inspection Dungavel operated under contract to the Home Office by GEO Group UK.
Mitie Care and Custody assumed management of the centre from September 25, 2021.
Mr Taylor went on: “We were pleased to find that the imminent transfer of contract was being managed in a spirit of cooperation.
“Dungavel has tended to deliver some of the best outcomes in the detention estate and, in general, what we found at this inspection was no exception.
"As in the rest of the immigration detention estate, the number of detainees had been low throughout the pandemic, partly because detention ceases to be lawful if there is no reasonable prospect of removal.”
Care for vulnerable detainees was found to be good, and a new supported living unit provided particularly good facilities the report said.
However, Mr Taylor said some detainees continued to be held for far too long, including those considered to be adults at risk and people whom the Home Office had itself accepted were victims of torture.
Among staff generally, Mr Taylor added: “There remained a positive culture focused on detainee welfare, and this was reflected in many conversations we had with staff and in our observations of the way that staff and detainees related to each other around the centre.
“However, as at the last inspection, many detainee custody officers complained of low morale and understaffing.
"While we saw no evidence that this discontent had yet affected the treatment of detainees or safety in the centre, it had the potential to become a more significant concern as the population increased and required sustained leadership attention.
"Currently, Dungavel remained a centre that was providing good care to detainees in challenging circumstances.”
Campaigners, including former EK MSP, Linda Fabiani, have long-called for the detention centre to be closed over claims of "inhumane" treatment of detainees with a number of protests held outside the centre.
She slammed a report which showed at least 21 young people had been held at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre since 2010 - despite the practice being outlawed here by former immigration minister, Damian Green.
In 2017 the Home Office made a U-turn over closure plans for the centre when Renfrewshire Council vetoed a new short-term holding facility near Glasgow Airport.
And last October the Home Office confirmed a COVID outbreak at the centre but refused to detail how many people are held there or if anyone died from COVID-19.
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