Twenty-six Albanian nationals removed in an 'uncomplicated operation' that went smoothly with no force used
A brief inspection report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) published last week looks at the recent removal of a number of Albanian nationals from immigration removal centres (IRCs) across the UK to Tirana.
Image credit: WikipediaThe 16-page report can be downloaded here.
Inspectors from HMI Prisons observed the escort and removal of twenty-six Albanian immigration detainees on a flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport in late February. The escort contractor for the Home Office was Mitie Care and Custody.
The report is broadly positive, with the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, noting the removal operation "went smoothly and all detainees were compliant throughout". Taylor said it was encouraging to see changes and improvements over removals observed by HMI Prisons on previous occasions, though inspectors said they found no examples of notable positive practices.
Charlie Taylor added: "[I]t was encouraging to see changes in some practices on which we have often commented. For example, guiding holds were not used at any stage – detainees were allowed to shut the door when using the toilet and staff very rarely talked at length to each other when they were directly supervising detainees. There were now more staff, and some had begun to make the effort to address and refer to detainees by name. … Those being removed were positive about how staff treated them, and, while we have noted some remaining concerns, there were some signs that changes in the management of the contracted service had led to better staff performance."
Concerns raised by HMI Prisons included a failure to fully inform the detainees of the details of their removal, insufficient use of interpreters, and long and stressful coach journeys (of up to 12.5 hours) for those being removed.
The report says that all detainees had indicated that they were willing to comply with the removal and no force was used at any stage.
No physical restraints were used, though HMI Prisons noted that this was not always the case: "We examined records from the previous three charter flights. Waist restraint belts had been used on six detainees for sufficiently documented reasons, apart from in one instance, which appeared to be precautionary and not based on any specific evidence of risk. The belts were usually removed shortly after take-off, but it was not always clear why they remained on for as long as they did. Staff were recorded as trying to defuse tension and anxiety, but the lack of interpretation had hindered this in some cases. There was insufficient documentation on the care and management of one person who was being supported under the [assessment, care in detention and teamwork] process."
There were no concerns raised by HMI Prisons over the ability of detainees to exercise their legal rights.
"Most detainees said they had not needed a solicitor, having opted for a voluntary return. Those who did need legal advice, said they could easily contact their solicitor. On each coach there were mobile phones that detainees could use to contact legal representatives, family or friends. On one coach, they were unable to make phone calls to numbers in Albania and staff worked hard to rectify this, so they could do so before the flight took off," the report states.
The arrival at Tirana passed without incident.
Meanwhile, Sky News reported on Sunday that immigration minister Robert Jenrick said hundreds of Albanians had been returned following the migration communiqué signed with Albania in December.
The Home Office said in April: "Since the communiqué was agreed, new figures show that over 1,000 Albanian nationals have been returned to Albania. This figure is a combination of failed asylum seekers, foreign national offenders and voluntary returns and covers the period from agreement of the joint communiqué on 13 December up to the first week in April."
In 2022, there were 1,888 returns of Albanian nationals, the Home Office added. 954 (51%) were enforced returns and 934 (49%) were voluntary returns.
In a major statement made on Monday about small boat crossings, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "We've now returned 1800 to Albania in just six months. We've gone from accepting around 1 in 5 Albanian asylum cases to now just 1 in 50 – in line with our European partners."
Alasdair Mackenzie of Doughty Street Chambers said on Twitter that Sunak's statement was an admission that success rates in asylum claims were influenced by political considerations.