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Deportation escorts to be trained in safer restraint methods Deportation escorts to be trained in safer restraint methods
(about 11 hours later)
Private security staff who carry out immigration deportations are to receive training in a new, safer system of restraint from next month, almost four years after the death of Jimmy Mubenga in 2010. Private security staff who carry out immigration deportations could soon be required to wear body cameras as an additional safeguard during removals.
The immigration minister, James Brokenshire, told MPs that the training would help "de-escalate situations and minimise the use of restraint". Escort staff are to receive training in a new, safer system of restraint from next month, almost four years after the death of Jimmy Mubenga in 2010. Immigration minister James Brokenshire told MPs the training would help "de-escalate situations and minimise the use of restraint".
Mubenga, 46, died after being restrained by three G4S guards on board a plane at Heathrow airport that was bound for Angola in October 2010. Mubenga died after being restrained by three G4S guards on board a plane at Heathrow that was bound for Angola in October 2010.
The announcement comes after a highly critical report from Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, last month. Hardwick expressed concern that the Tascor private security staff who now carry out deportations from Britain knew little of the outcome of the inquiry into Mubenga's death. The announcement comes after a highly critical report from Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons. Hardwick expressed concern that the Tascor private security staff who now carry out deportations from Britain knew little of the outcome of the inquiry into 46-year-old Mubenga's death.
"Escorts had still not been provided with training on the use of force in confined environments, such as aircraft, two-and-half years since inspectors first recommended it," he said in an inspection report on a mass deportation charter flight to Pakistan. "Escorts had still not been provided with training on the use of force in confined environments, such as aircraft, two and half years since inspectors first recommended it," he said in an inspection report on a mass deportation charter flight to Pakistan.
The court of appeal heard a legal challenge earlier this month brought by human rights organisations Liberty and Inquest, over a refusal to disclose the policy of restraint on individuals being removed from the UK. It also follows aThe court of appeal heard a legal challenge this month brought by human rights organisations Liberty and Inquest, over a refusal to disclose the policy of restraint on individuals being removed from the UK.
Brokenshire said the safety of the new restraint system had been assessed by an independent panel chaired by Stephen Shaw, the former prisons and probation ombudsman. Brokenshire said the safety of the new restraint system had been assessed by an independent panel chaired by former prisons and probation ombudsman Stephen Shaw. The minister said the panel's report "recognises the balance to be struck between treating detainees with respect and minimising the need for restraint with our responsibility to enforce immigration law, which sometimes requires the use of physical intervention".
The minister said the panel's report "recognises the balance to be struck between treating detainees with respect and minimising the need for restraint, with our responsibility to enforce immigration law, which sometimes requires the use of physical intervention". Published minutes of the advisory panel show that at one stage this year it questioned if a section on restraining pregnant women was in line with Home Office policy. The panel was told the new "use of force" policy would "include a section on restraining pregnant women to prevent harm and to effect their removal".
Published minutes of the advisory panel show that at one stage earlier this year they questioned whether a section on restraining pregnant women was in line with Home Office policy. They were told the new "use of force" policy would "include a section on restraining pregnant women to prevent harm and to effect their removal".
The Home Office said the panel's report and the government response to it was being published, but only a "redacted version" of the new manual detailing the techniques involved and supporting guidance would be published in due course.The Home Office said the panel's report and the government response to it was being published, but only a "redacted version" of the new manual detailing the techniques involved and supporting guidance would be published in due course.
The Home Office said it had accepted the panel's recommendations, including the possible use of cameras worn by removals escorts. Their report also said they had accepted that the use of restraint techniques that involved inflicting pain on the deportee to secure their compliance was justifiable, but they wanted to be assured they would not be used gratuitously or as a matter of first resort. The Home Office said it welcomed the panel's suggestion to extend the use of body-worn cameras to those carrying out removals. CCTV cameras are already used during incidents in immigration removal centres and also installed in the vans used to transport detainees. Although they add the technology is new and there are issues with battery life and storage capacity: "We are happy to look at the viability of extending this to pre-boarding of a flight, and whether this would be applicable to all escorted moves or those which are complex," said the Home Office response.
Three G4S private security guards have been charged with manslaughter for the death of Mubenga, and will face trial later this year. The panel also said they had accepted that the use of restraint techniques that involved inflicting pain on the deportee to secure their compliance was justifiable, but wanted to be assured they would not be used gratuitously or as a matter of first resort.
Three G4S private security guards have been charged with manslaughter for the death of Mubenga and face trial later this year.