Inspection reveals use of force after protest by detainees being deported under ‘one in, one out’ scheme
Asylum seekers who protested against being forcibly removed to France under the Home Office’s controversial “one in, one out” scheme, were transported out of the UK in waist and leg restraints, an inspection report has revealed.
The report by the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, Charlie Taylor, inspected a flight to France that took place on 20-21 January this year and on which it found no force was used.
However, it also referenced a flight on 16 January where force was used after a detainees’ sit-down protest the previous evening. The protest was ended after the deployment of “specialist national resources”, said the report, which was published on Monday.
Thirty-two detainees onboard the 20-21 January flight were small boat arrivals who were forcibly removed to France in exchange for a similar number in France brought to the UK legally. Many asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on small boats have experienced persecution including torture and trafficking.
Four use-of-force incidents were recorded in connection with the 16 January flight. Waist restraint belts were applied three times.
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Original article continues at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/13/asylum-seekers-removed-uk-waist-leg-restraints-one-in-one-out-france
