Written question asked by Shabana Mahmood (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 October 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 October 2011. It was answered by Damian Green (Conservative) on Monday, 24 October 2011 on behalf of the Home Office.

Restraint Equipment: Detainees

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees have been injured while being restrained during deportation from the UK in (a) the 12 months period ending on 1 September 2011 and (b) each of the previous five years.

Answer: Escort officers are trained in the use of control and restraint techniques, which are used only as a matter of last resort when all other alternatives of persuading a person to comply with their removal from the UK 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. Escort officers are required to submit a report each time force has been used to restrain a detainee while being removed. However separate records are not held on injuries sustained. This could be determined only by examination of each use of force or incident report submitted at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information