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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Migrant complaint policy shake-up | Migrant complaint policy shake-up |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Home Office says it will change the way abuse allegations against immigration staff are handled following criticisms from a government watchdog. | The Home Office says it will change the way abuse allegations against immigration staff are handled following criticisms from a government watchdog. |
| The Border and Immigration Agency's Complaints Audit Committee said immigrants' and asylum seekers' complaints were often not followed up. | The Border and Immigration Agency's Complaints Audit Committee said immigrants' and asylum seekers' complaints were often not followed up. |
| It found just 8% of complainants were interviewed and 89% of investigations were "neither balanced nor thorough". | It found just 8% of complainants were interviewed and 89% of investigations were "neither balanced nor thorough". |
| The government promised a "radical, new complaints system" would be launched. | The government promised a "radical, new complaints system" would be launched. |
| 'Grave concern' | 'Grave concern' |
| BBC home affairs editor Mark Easton said the committee had prepared the most critical report into the Home Office's work that he had seen. | BBC home affairs editor Mark Easton said the committee had prepared the most critical report into the Home Office's work that he had seen. |
| There have been "glaring errors" in dealing with complaints about the treatment of immigrants being deported from the UK, the report says. | There have been "glaring errors" in dealing with complaints about the treatment of immigrants being deported from the UK, the report says. |
| It criticises the denial of rights to those dealt with by private firms on behalf of the Immigration Service. | It criticises the denial of rights to those dealt with by private firms on behalf of the Immigration Service. |
| In 95% of cases, those investigating the complaints had been from the companies under investigation. | In 95% of cases, those investigating the complaints had been from the companies under investigation. |
| The report adds that "upwards of 20%" of records sought by the committee have been missing. | The report adds that "upwards of 20%" of records sought by the committee have been missing. |
| It said that 83% of replies received were "indefensible". | It said that 83% of replies received were "indefensible". |
| The committee's report, covering 2006/07, says investigations into misconduct complaints have been "poor". | The committee's report, covering 2006/07, says investigations into misconduct complaints have been "poor". |
| There could only be a "most limited assurance on the quality and integrity of complaints management information we have audited", it adds. | There could only be a "most limited assurance on the quality and integrity of complaints management information we have audited", it adds. |
| Some 71% of misconduct complaints were not completed within time targets. | Some 71% of misconduct complaints were not completed within time targets. |
| The report says serious misconduct complaints remain a source of "grave concern to us because of the risks of injury or death, wrongful arrest and civil liability arising from the arrest, detention and removal of failed asylum seekers". | The report says serious misconduct complaints remain a source of "grave concern to us because of the risks of injury or death, wrongful arrest and civil liability arising from the arrest, detention and removal of failed asylum seekers". |
| Of those misconduct complaints received, 19% were over criminal behaviour - up from 12% in 2005/06. | Of those misconduct complaints received, 19% were over criminal behaviour - up from 12% in 2005/06. |
| 'Punched' | 'Punched' |
| One asylum seeker, Apollo Okello, told the BBC he had been bundled onto a plane at Heathrow and refused permission to see his lawyer, with the security guards knowing he already had permission to stay in the UK. | One asylum seeker, Apollo Okello, told the BBC he had been bundled onto a plane at Heathrow and refused permission to see his lawyer, with the security guards knowing he already had permission to stay in the UK. |
| He struggled and was beaten up in the back of a van, he said. | He struggled and was beaten up in the back of a van, he said. |
| He added: "That's where I was punched - my ribs, my eyes, my neck, my back." | |
| One of the guards said "these black monkeys don't want to go back to their country", Mr Okello said. | |
| In a statement, the Home Office said: "The Border and Immigration Agency has been actively working with the committee to design a radical, new complaints system which will come on line from February 2008." | In a statement, the Home Office said: "The Border and Immigration Agency has been actively working with the committee to design a radical, new complaints system which will come on line from February 2008." |