§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for dealing with complaints made by immigration and asylum detainees about incidents occurring while they are under escort or transit outside detention or removal centres. [157446]
§ Mr. BrowneAll allegations of assault are taken very seriously and all complaints are investigated. If a complaint is made about an alleged assault or inappropriate use of force by either the in-country or overseas escorting contractor the Immigration Service contract monitor will refer this allegation to the police. If such a complaint is made in respect of a local escort, for example to hospital, the detainee, or his/her representative, is always advised in the first instance to go to the police.
In both cases it is a matter for the police whether a criminal investigation follows. If it is decided not to undertake a criminal investigation, and the escort was a local journey the Immigration Service contract monitor at the removal centre will carry out an investigation of the alleged incident. If the complaint was against the in-country or overseas escorting contractor, the internal investigation will be undertaken by the appropriate contract monitor.