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Immigration: Deportation

Answer

The UK Border Agency expects the highest standards from its staff and contractors and will take appropriate robust action against those who fail to adhere to them. The UK Border Agency has a team of eight contract monitors who monitor and report on the performance of the escorting service provider. Members of the Independent Monitoring Board regularly report to the contract monitors and the chief inspector of prisons also carries out announced and unannounced inspections. The UK Border Agency operates a comprehensive complaints system as part of its monitoring arrangements. All detainees are told how to complain on arrival at a removal centre and upon escort, and forms are widely available in a range of different languages. Complaints about the use of force are referred to the UK Border Agency's Professional Standards Unit for investigation and are also referred automatically to the police for their own parallel investigation. The Professional Standards Unit uses a team of dedicated investigators who are all professionally trained to police standards. The contract monitor will consider whether an allegation is such that it is appropriate to suspend the accreditation of any officers involved in that incident. The management of the escorting service will also commission an internal investigation. Any investigation substantiated by the UK Border Agency will lead to some form of disciplinary action. This could ultimately include the revocation of an individual's accreditation to work for the agency. The individual may also face criminal charges if the police decide that an offence has been committed. Where detainees are not satisfied with the outcome of their complaints, they may refer the matter to the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and are told at the time how to do so.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

12229; 731 c77-8WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Disciplinary proceedings Deportation Restraint techniques Kenya UK Border Agency

Link

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