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Asylum Seekers

Volume 470: debated on Tuesday 22 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the procedures are for reporting cases of physical and verbal abuse (a) by and (b) against failed asylum seekers during the removal process; and how many cases there have been of each in the last 12 months. (172269)

When an incident of verbal or physical abuse occurs against escort staff by detainees (which includes failed asylum seekers), staff are required to complete an incident report and submit it to senior managers. Staff can also report the matter to the police. Detainees wishing to complain against escort staff use complaints forms that are freely available in removal centres and submit them in confidence to the Border and Immigration Agency removal centre manager. Information on cases of physical and verbal abuse by and against failed asylum seekers is not collected separately and is therefore not available.