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Britain
UK: Asylum staff 'are intimidating'
2009-08-13
Illegal immigrants and foreign prisoners are failing to be removed from the UK because escort staff are "intimidating" them, a report has said.
Boggle.
The findings are revealed by the Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, Dame Anne Owers.

Inspectors monitored immigration escort staff involved in removing detainees from Heathrow Airport. It says when officers escorting immigration offenders mistreat them, removals are more likely to fail.

The report cites the case of four Afghan detainees, who were initially willing to fly home. Then, in what the report describes as an "unnecessary and intimidating" intervention, escort staff warned the detainees they would be "dealt with" if they were "naughty" on the plane. They refused to go.

Valid documents

Removals were also cancelled due to staff shortages and because nurses had not been booked to accompany detainees with health problems.

Sometimes detainees were flown back to the UK because their home countries said their paperwork was not in order.

On one occasion, escort staff taking a woman to Mozambique were themselves locked up after the authorities there questioned whether their documents were valid.

Dame Anne said: "This short report found worrying gaps and weaknesses in complaints and monitoring processes.

"It also found varying practice, with no evidence that the good and thoughtful approach of some staff was mirrored in clear and consistent standards of treatment, support and communication.

"This heightened the risk of ill-treatment or abuse, and was also likely to lead to failed removals."

David Wood, director of the criminality and detention group at the UK Border Agency said anyone involved in the detention and removal of detainees was highly trained. "Many detainees refuse to leave the UK voluntarily, even when the courts say they must. In some cases individuals become violent toward themselves, the public or our staff when it is time to go home.

"Detainee escorts have a very difficult job to do in carrying out what the public expects of the UK Border Agency in enforcing our immigration laws."
Posted by:tipper

#12  Oh, yes, the Saints were always p!55ing someone or another off!
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2009-08-13 20:33  

#11  Whahahaha! I always knew you were a .... Saint!
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-08-13 20:05  

#10  Thanks, Besoeker, much appreciated. We are a confused bunch of people, and when I ask my daughter, she says my friends are all the same as me. However, cannot claim to be 'Pamwe Chete,' or even Grey's Scouts... was 1RLI.
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2009-08-13 19:34  

#9  Goodness, rf, never crossed my mind it was anything criminal with you. We know better here. Just thought you got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sweden, eh? Unfortunately, looks like they've softened up a lot, to their detriment since then....

What Boeseker said. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-08-13 19:31  

#8  My years of exile, Barbara, nothing crimimal done, honest! I did have some local, Swedish, folk offer to kidnap me so I could stay there, though. Rhodesia was a dirty word back then, even more so in Africa. I also have some 'Denied Entry' stories that should be applied today.
;D
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2009-08-13 19:02  

#7  Too many years in the Scouts eh RF? Thanks for making this your home. We appreciate you!
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-08-13 18:49  

#6  *The difference being, RJ, I was that I realised that that country did not particulary want me, my bags were packed, traveller cheques in hand, the cops were amazed that I was ready to go, lol, not like these no-nut times.
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2009-08-13 18:34  

#5  Good Lord, rhodesiafever. Might we ask for more details? (Inquiring minds and all that....)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-08-13 18:21  

#4  My experience of deportation involved armed police arriving to fetch me, a night in jail without my belt or shoelaces and last on the first 'plane outta there in the morning. I thought that was normal.
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2009-08-13 18:13  

#3  They REFUSED TO GO, handcuff them to a seat and give the keys to the pilot, at the other end, either get off or be thrown off, YOU DON'T TELL COPS NO. (Not more than once anyway).
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2009-08-13 17:52  

#2  Britian (Left off Great on purpose), is too buisy sucking up to the Islamics to worry about such little things as "Justice".
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2009-08-13 15:01  

#1  I dont get it. Theyre being deported, right? It shouldnt matter whether or not they want to go...

What the heck is wrong with the UK govt nowadays?
Posted by: Bisa   2009-08-13 09:18  

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