Alarming number of injuries

An alarming number of injuries sustained by asylum deportees at the hand of private "escorts" contracted by the Home Office have come to light in the report entitled Outsourcing Abuses by Brinberg Peirce & Partners, Medical Justice and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC).

Their shocking findings reveal evidence of widespread and seemingly systemic abuse of vulnerable people who have fled their own countries seeking safety and refuge, and that assault claims have largely been brushed off by the Home Office.

Speaking at the launch of the report at the House of Commons, Westminster, Dianne Abbott MP said: ‘this  is the one of the most shocking reports about our immigration system that I have seen in 20 years as a Member of Parliament. It suggests a complete failure [by the Home Office] to investigate many of the allegations.  This report is distressing and upsetting for anyone to read. But for Ministers it is a damning verdict on their inability to inject even a shred of humanity into a flailing immigration system.'

 Fear of retribution

This report has acted as a catalysts for action around the country with the  a group in Leeds holding a protest outside an immigration reporting centre, cellotaping quotes from the "Outsourcing Abuse" report to the building

Victims who spoke at the launch although pleased  that the report has finally brought to light the human rights abuses they report that they have suffered but arenervous about having spoken out and fear retribution in some form  from the Home Office, Medical Justice have reported. 

One asylum seeker, who preferred to remain unnamed, said: ‘being a victim myself, I was shocked that brutality was being administered at such a scale. Lives have been wrecked. Some people have been left physically and mentally damaged for life. Most victims feel this is the first step in the right direction to get redress and possibly put perpetrators on trial. People fleeing persecution should never have to experience this kind of treatment in the UK.'

Documented abuse

Welcomed from many quarters,  campaigners say that the issue of alleged assaults is known to have been a massive and  an appalling level of abuse has been going on for years, but it has been extremely difficult to document. 

‘This report is very strong. I am relieved that the catalogue of alleged assaults have finally been evidenced and that the report will be an effective tool in exposing and challenging the Home Office,' Hamish Arnott, solicitor at Bhatt Murphy, said.

The Home Office has responded to questions raised by the Independent Newspaper about the shocking findings in this report, by saying: ‘It is understood that the UK Borders Agency has received 89 complaints since October 2006, of which three were substantiated. Another 10 were partly upheld, relating to issues such as rudeness or inefficiency.'

Commenting on this statement a spokesperson for the Medical Health Agency said they have been waiting for a response from the Home Office on alleged abuses for at least nine years. 

‘We are glad that something has finally arrived. We will review it and where necessary will refer it to the police.'   

Allegations denied

Another security agency Group4Securicor has told The Independent that it investigates all allegations properly and instructs its escort teams to treat all asylum-seekers with respect. Other firms have declined to comment on similar allegations.

 However in a statement published on their website the Medical Health Agency said: ‘the volume of complaints the Home Office refers to is not in synch with ours, or the numbers the Complaints Audit Committee told us about.  As for the nine months the Home Office say they have been waiting for the information - in many cases they have had the information themselves for years and many of the victims had not even had an acknowledgement of the complaints they have made.'

It has also come to light that Diane Abbott MP and Lord Ramsbotham have written formal letters to the Home Office about the report; while Lord Ramsbotham has not had a substantive response, just an acknowledgement to his letter - Dianne Abbott MP has received not received any response at all.

Harrowing findings

While the report has sent shockwaves throughout the all the minority communities in the UK, as many of whom will know of someone or even had a relative who has been sent to a deportee detention centre, the level of the human rights abuses of those while in the care of the state will come as a rude awakening.

For Medical Justice and their campaign partners, the publications of these harrowing findings are only the start of a move to protect the human rights of one of the most vulnerable groups living on these shores.

Medical Justice and Birnberg Peirce have a meeting arranged with the Strategic Director of the Criminality and Detention Group at the Home Office to look into the reinvestigations of alleged assaults for a number of asylum seekers . 

 
The Home Office said in a statement: ‘ we can provide an assurance that those making allegations will not be harmed.' However such assurance come as cold comfort to many who may have suffered at the hands of the Home Office's private escorts.

Commenting on their response Dianne Abbott MP said: ‘It seems that the Home Office are simply reinforcing our message; they don't seem to have a clue what's going on.  Or worse, they do.'

Financial support

This ground breaking report has been published without any formal funding,  and the need for financial support has led to an appeal for donations by Medical Justice

Donations can also be made by electronic bank transfer or a standing order full details on how to support their work can be found here

Cheques should be made out to "Medical Justice" and posted to 30 Portland Rise, London, N4 2PP - please write "Outsourcing Abuse" on the back of the cheque.   All assistance  would be gratefully received. Dianne Abbott MP will be hosting a public meeting on ‘Outsourcing Abuse' on Monday 27^th Ocotober 2008 from 11.00am  - 1.00pm at the Grand Committee Room, House of Commons, London.

All are welcome to attend and campaigning activities leading up to this meeting will be published on the Medical Justice Website.  For more information or to register your interest e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 07904 778365.

Go Medical Justice to read the 'Outsourcing Abuse ' report.