Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Neuberger (Liberal Democrat). It was answered by Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 November 2010.

Immigration: Deportation

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what restraint methods are now used in deportations; and whether there has been any change of practice recently.

Answer: My Lords, the vast majority of people who are being removed from this country depart voluntarily. There is a small category of people who resist. It is known policy that escorts may be used to control and restrain such individuals and that these techniques are accredited by the National Offender Management Service. Following the death of Mr Mubenga, the UK Border Agency temporarily suspended the use of control and restraint on scheduled flights for a 10-day period between 15 and 25 October. That was for the purpose of carrying out an immediate review to see whether the techniques used on the aircraft were appropriate. The use has been reinstated. The National Offender Management Service, which conducted this review, has said that there is no substantiation to the claims that have been made that the restraints being used were inherently dangerous. We are now going on to conduct more investigation of the appropriateness and utility of restraint. We do not believe that we have anything like achieved the last word. So I can assure the House that this issue, which I know is a matter of anxiety to us all, will be taken forward and that we are examining what needs to be done very thoroughly.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 721 c1560
Session: 2010-12
Oral question type: Lead
Procedure: Topical questions (HL)
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2010-1969
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Subjects: Deportation Security guards Restraint techniques
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk