Hundreds of failed asylum seekers say they have been assaulted by security teams contracted by the Home Office to deport them, according to a report published today.
The report presents findings from a dossier of nearly 300 assaults, alleged to have taken place between January 2004 and June 2008.
The incidents include allegations of beatings and racial abuse.
Injuries range from handcuff-bruised wrists to s
wollen faces, fractured ribs, wrists and ankles.
The report – by Birnberg Peirce & Partners, Medical Justice and the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns – says: "This dossier provides evidence of widespread and seemingly systematic abuse of one of the most vulnerable communities of people in our society. We consider the evidence in this report reveals what may amount to state sanctioned violence, for which ultimate responsibility lies with the Home Office."
Publication of the report follows similar allegations made in October 2007.
Former chief inspector of prisons Lord Ramsbotham, who wrote the foreword to the report, said : "(The Home Office) should recognise that our national reputation is not something to be treated lightly or wantonly, and that, if even one of the cases is substantiated, that amounts to something of a preventable national disgrace."
Dr Frank Arnold, a volunteer doctor with Medical Justice, said: "I have seen many serious injuries with long-lasting effects – crushing of nerves at the wrist from forceful pulling on handcuffs, limitation of neck movement by patients whose heads were pushed under aircraft seats, numbness of the face after blows around the cheek and eye.
"I have also seen a dislocated wrist, giant bruises and swellings the size of my fist. I have seen far worse abuses but do not have the patient's permission to reveal confidential medical information."
A UK Border Agency (UKBA) spokesman said: "We have been asking for this information for at least nine months. We are glad that something has finally arrived. We will review it and where necessary will refer it to the police."
He said since the allegations came to light in 2007 the agency had asked for details "again and again".
"Not a single piece of evidence has been provided to UKBA to back up the allegations or allow us to start investigations.
Allegations of assault were taken "extremely seriously".
