Of course it is sometimes necessary to deport people who don’t wish to leave the country, but surely this can be done in a safe and humane way? The examples we have encountered of control and restraint techniques used by private contractors on immigration detainees are beyond belief. A Liberty client was heavily restrained after a suicide attempt. After cutting the ligature from his neck, four or five security guards pinned him to the floor, kneeling on his back and held him in a headlock. He was struggling to breathe and was - understandably - terrified.
Because of this case Liberty asked the Home Office for a copy of the full Use of Force policy, which it refused to disclose. However, permission has been granted for a judicial review of that refusal and the lawfulness of these cruel techniques used on immigration detainees.
The use of these dangerous restraint methods on vulnerable and often frightened people is a scandal which must end. Jimmy Mubenga’s death was a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided – and must never be repeated.
