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Illegal Immigrants: Deportation

Answer

We expect all those with no basis of stay in the UK to leave voluntarily, and in certain circumstances we offer assistance with doing so. However, where they refuse to leave we have a duty to uphold our immigration laws by enforcing their departure.The vast majority of people detained comply with arrangements for their removal, and while they are taken to the airport to be placed on the aircraft, they make the return journey alone. However, a small minority of people even then refuse to leave and, regrettably, escorts have to be used to enforce their departure.It is not our wish that individuals are restrained, but if they refuse to leave and in some cases even become violent in an attempt to harm the officers, damage the aircraft or generally disrupt their removal, we have to ensure they are controlled for safety reasons and comply with the law. There are no other alternatives where people refuse to go.Escort officers are trained in the use of control and restraint techniques, which are only used as a matter of last resort when all other alternatives of persuading a person to comply with their removal have failed or they need to be controlled for safety reasons.The use of restraint is legitimate and lawful so long as its use is justified, proportionate and de-escalated at the earliest opportunity when the individual has complied. Where restraint is used, officers have to complete a comprehensive report, which is submitted to a senior manager and the UK Border Agency escort monitor for review.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

44774; 524 c942W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Deportation Undocumented migrants

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk