The inquiry launched following the death of Jimmy Mubenga on a deportation flight from the UK found that, although there were some positive aspects of the process – which is carried out on the UK Border Agency’s behalf by a private security contractor (initially G4S and, since 1 May 2011, Reliance Security) – the Committee found evidence of:
The Committee recommends that the UK Border Agency should strengthen its procedures so that its own staff feel they’re entitled – and expected – to challenge any poor conduct on the part of contractors.
The Committee also rejects the practice of taking detainees to the airport as ‘reserves’ in case another detainee is taken off a removal flight at the last minute.
To strengthen safeguards against the ill-treatment of prisoners, the Committee recommends that members of the Independent Monitoring Boards for immigration removal centres (or a similar independent monitoring network) be given access to chartered removal flights.
Comments from the chairman
Speaking about the report findings, Keith Vaz MP (chairman of the Home Affairs Committee) commented: “The Committee began this inquiry following the tragic death of Jimmy Mubenga on a deportation flight in October 2010. I’m disappointed that there has not been any progress on this investigation.”
Vaz continued: “Serious questions also remain over the use of contractors in the removal of detainees since Reliance took over from G4S following the death of Mr Mubenga.”
According to Vaz, the UK Border Agency “must not wash its hands” of responsibility for detainees just because the service is contracted out. “The Agency must introduce tougher management processes to ensure that contractors are delivering the service that the public expect, and that senior management challenge unacceptable behaviour,” he explained.
Vaz went on to say: “The use of ‘reserves’ on removal flights must cease. It’s simply inhumane to uproot somebody on the expectation that they will be returned to their home country only to then return them at the end of the day to a detention centre in the UK – and sometimes a different one from the one they left that morning.”
In conclusion, Vaz said: “People who are not entitled to remain in the country must be removed and there may be occasions when it’s necessary to use physical force, but this must always be done only when absolutely necessary, and with proper respect for the dignity of the detainee.”
