Asylum seekers who protested against being forcibly removed to France under the Home Office's 'one in, one out' scheme were transported out of the UK in waist and leg restraints, an inspection report has revealed.
The report by the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, Charlie Taylor, inspected a flight to France on 20-21 January where no force was used. However, it referenced a flight on 16 January where force was used after a sit-down protest the previous evening. The protest was ended with 'specialist national resources'.
Four use-of-force incidents were recorded on the 16 January flight. Waist restraint belts were applied three times; in one case it was removed quickly after takeoff. In the other two cases, detainees remained in the belts for the duration due to 'continuing resistance'. Leg restraints were also applied to these two detainees during transport, with one remaining in them throughout the flight.
The report raised concerns about lack of interpreters and access to solicitors, and found asylum seekers anxious about being left homeless in France or removed to other countries. Emma Ginn, director of Medical Justice, expressed alarm that some detainees showed clinical evidence of torture and that force could re-enact past mistreatment.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government is restoring order and control to the border, having removed or deported almost 60,000 people since the election, and that the welfare of detainees is of utmost importance.
