Generally good care for detainees escorted and removed to Zimbabwe
Inspectors monitoring an escort and removal flight to Zimbabwe found that generally detainees were treated well by staff. Three women and six men were on the flight in September, which was the first inspected since removals to Zimbabwe restarted in 2021 after an interval of several years.
The number being removed had declined considerably in the weeks leading up to the flight, and this had caused anxiety to those whose removal was cancelled at short notice. Inspectors interviewed detainees and found that not all were aware of the details of their removal journey. However, all detainees had access to a mobile phone to call personal and legal contacts and during the flight Home Office staff were present and accessible, which was better than seen on other removal inspections.
There was some insensitive behaviour from escort officers, with many referring to detainees only by their manifest numbers. Doors were kept ajar when detainees were using the toilet on the flight, which was an unnecessary intrusion of privacy and not based on an individual risk assessment. Men and women were not always kept separate.
Force was used twice during the removal. Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, commented that “proper techniques were used” but that “sufficient priority” was not given to “de-escalating tensions by other means.”
Notes to editors
- Read the Zimbabwe escort and removals report, published on 16 December 2022.
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
- Nine detainees were removed from London Stansted to Harare, escorted by 50 escort staff and two health care professionals.
- This inspection took place from 7–8 September 2022.
- Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.