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Fury over treatment of migrants Migrant complaint policy shake-up
(about 6 hours later)
There have been "glaring errors" in dealing with complaints about the treatment of immigrants being deported from the UK, a report says. The Home Office says it will change the way abuse allegations against immigration staff are handled following criticisms from a government watchdog.
The Border and Immigration Agency's Complaints Audit Committee said immigrants' and asylum seekers' complaints were often not followed up.
It found just 8% of complainants were interviewed and 89% of investigations were "neither balanced nor thorough".
The government promised a "radical, new complaints system" would be launched.
'Grave concern'
BBC home affairs editor Mark Easton said the committee had prepared the most critical report into the Home Office's work that he had seen.
There have been "glaring errors" in dealing with complaints about the treatment of immigrants being deported from the UK, the report says.
It criticises the denial of rights to those dealt with by private firms on behalf of the Immigration Service.It criticises the denial of rights to those dealt with by private firms on behalf of the Immigration Service.
The Border and Immigration Agency's Complaints Audit Committee adds that "upwards of 20%" of records it has sought have been missing. In 95% of cases, those investigating the complaints had been from the companies under investigation.
One man told the BBC he had been beaten up in a van by security guards. The report adds that "upwards of 20%" of records sought by the committee have been missing.
'Not thorough' It said that 83% of replies received were "indefensible".
The committee's report, for 2006/07, says investigations into misconduct complaints have been "poor". The committee's report, covering 2006/07, says investigations into misconduct complaints have been "poor".
Only 8% of complainants were interviewed and 89% of investigations were "neither balanced nor thorough". There could only be a "most limited assurance on the quality and integrity of complaints management information we have audited", it adds.
As a result, 83% of replies were "indefensible".
The committee - appointed by the Home Office - found 20% of records it had tried to look at had gone missing.
There could only be a "most limited assurance on the quality and integrity of complaints management information we have audited", it added.
Some 71% of misconduct complaints were not completed within time targets.Some 71% of misconduct complaints were not completed within time targets.
The report says serious misconduct complaints remain a source of "grave concern to us because of the risks of injury or death, wrongful arrest and civil liability arising from the arrest, detention and removal of failed asylum seekers".The report says serious misconduct complaints remain a source of "grave concern to us because of the risks of injury or death, wrongful arrest and civil liability arising from the arrest, detention and removal of failed asylum seekers".
Of those misconduct complaints received, 19% were over criminal behaviour - up from 12% in 2005/06.Of those misconduct complaints received, 19% were over criminal behaviour - up from 12% in 2005/06.
'Punched''Punched'
One asylum seeker, Apollo Okello, told the BBC he had been bundled onto a plane at Heathrow and refused permission to see his lawyer, with the security guards knowing he already had permission to stay in the UK.One asylum seeker, Apollo Okello, told the BBC he had been bundled onto a plane at Heathrow and refused permission to see his lawyer, with the security guards knowing he already had permission to stay in the UK.
He struggled and was beaten up in the back of a van, he said.He struggled and was beaten up in the back of a van, he said.
He added:" That's where I was punched - my ribs, my eyes, my neck, my back.He added:" That's where I was punched - my ribs, my eyes, my neck, my back.
"I was crying, shouting, crying, shouting, then one of his colleagues was very, very aggressive to me... One of the guards said "These black monkeys don't want to go back to their country," Mr Okello said.
"Told me that these black monkeys don't want to go back to their country."
In 95% of cases, those investigating the complaints had been from the companies under investigation.
BBC home affairs editor Mark Easton said it had been the most critical report into the Home Office's work that he had seen.
In a statement, the Home Office said: "The Border and Immigration Agency has been actively working with the committee to design a radical, new complaints system which will come on line from February 2008."In a statement, the Home Office said: "The Border and Immigration Agency has been actively working with the committee to design a radical, new complaints system which will come on line from February 2008."