Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking over the immigration detention estate to ensure the use of force is continually monitored and recorded for all detainees, and particularly vulnerable adults and children.

We will accept nothing but the highest standards from companies employed to manage the immigration removal estate.

Published guidance Detention Services Order 07/2016, and the training received by detainee custody officers (DCOs) makes it clear that physical force and restraint equipment must only be used as a last resort, and for the shortest possible time, and physical force will be used only after a thorough risk assessment and in consideration of each individual’s personal circumstances. Where restraints are used, they must be removed at the earliest opportunity.

The Home Office reviews all reports resulting from a use of force in detention to identify trends, ensure that techniques are used proportionally, are justified, and are only used for the minimum period required.