Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to investigate recent reports of abuse of failed asylum seekers during forced removal.

Mr. Byrne: All allegations of assault are investigated by a team of trained and experienced Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) investigators and are automatically referred to the police. In the event that any allegations of assault are upheld, we would expect the police to pursue criminal charges. The staff concerned would also be subject to disciplinary action by their employers and would have their accreditation as Detention Custody Officers revoked by BIA.

We asked the Independent newspaper for sight of the dossier on so that a thorough investigation can be carried out. Despite several follow-up requests, this still has not been passed to us. We continue to press the newspaper.