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A planned deportation flight from the UK to Egypt was abruptly cancelled after an Egyptian national in custody swallowed a lithium battery from a vape device. The incident has sparked an investigation into the protocols surrounding detainee care and safety during deportation processes.
Incident Overview
The individual, a foreign national offender, was being held in segregated detention prior to his scheduled flight. He was set to be deported to Egypt via a stop in Albania, where he would have travelled alone on the second leg of the journey, accompanied only by guards and flight crew. However, during his time in detention, he was provided with a vape, which led to the hazardous incident. Following the ingestion of the battery, he was promptly taken to a hospital for treatment and has since returned to detention.
A spokesperson for Mitie, the contractor responsible for managing deportations for the Home Office, stated, “This incident is currently being investigated. At this point, there is no evidence to suggest any wrongdoing or breach of procedure by our colleagues. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of those in our care.”
Details of the Deportation Process
The Home Office routinely charters private flights to deport individuals, primarily to Albania but also to other destinations, including Nigeria and Ghana. In this instance, a private jet was booked for the man, who was expected to fly to Albania alongside other deportees before making his way to Egypt. The unusual arrangement of a direct flight to Egypt for a single individual raised questions about the costs involved, which can reach into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Such flights are rare and typically reserved for individuals deemed particularly disruptive, as the Home Office aims to expedite their removal from the UK.
Previous Issues with Mitie
Mitie has faced scrutiny in the past over its management of deportation and detention processes. Notably, there was a previous incident where a detainee escaped from a plane while it was on the runway at Heathrow. Additionally, senior staff at the Manston facility, which processes asylum seekers, were investigated and subsequently dismissed due to misconduct.
Currently, Mitie manages several contracts for the Home Office, encompassing overseas deportations and immigration detention, among other government responsibilities. In light of the recent incident, the Home Office has expressed its commitment to supporting Mitie’s investigation while reaffirming that “disruptive behaviour will not succeed” and that deportation efforts will continue.
Why it Matters
This incident highlights significant concerns regarding the safety protocols in place during the deportation process. As the Home Office investigates, the case raises broader questions about the treatment of individuals in custody and the measures taken to ensure their wellbeing. With deportation flights being a contentious aspect of immigration policy, maintaining high safety standards is crucial not only for the individuals involved but also for public trust in the systems that govern immigration and asylum in the UK.
