A critique of the enforcement of deportations from the UK

The research project is a critique of the enforcement of deportations from the UK. The research illustrates how significant deportations are in today’s society. Thousands of individuals each year are deported, voluntarily and non-voluntarily, from the UK. Yet to date there has been no academic research conducted on this Governmental activity. The research found that deportation law and policies are in some circumstances discriminatory, confusing and open to abuse. The physical enforcement of deportations is the responsibility of private security firm Group 4 Securicor (G4S), and there have been some key issues in regard to their behaviour and working practices during deportations. High costs, poor service quality and an apparent immunity to punishment were also among the issues associated with the contracting out of deportation enforcement to G4S. Deportation enforcement is also shrouded in secrecy and from the number of rejections the researcher received when attempting to interview various parties mirrored this assumption. The physical act of deportation can also be very damaging to the deportees, not only psychologically and socially – but also physically and emotionally. Psychiatric disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression and increased anxiety have all been noted to occur in deportees. The usage of restraints during enforced deportations was also analyzed and it was found that often restraints were used inappropriately and indiscriminately. There was also a lack of specialist medical training and restraint training for security escorts and this had implications for the welfare of deportees. Finally there was a significant lack of a comprehensive, regular and professional inspection routine for enforced deportations – and this remains so despite the introduction of the UKBA Chief Inspector in 2007. The research also uncovered issues such as discrimination, inequality and abuse.