UKBA – a clarification

Your article on 10 September made serious allegations of mistreatment of illegal immigrants on a return flight to Iraq ( Report , 10 September). The UK Border Agency totally rejects these false claims. I can confirm that 49 Iraqi nationals were removed on a chartered flight to Baghdad on 6 September. On arrival in Baghdad, approximately 35 returnees refused to disembark, assaulted escorting staff and attempted to damage the aircraft; minimum force was used to effect disembarkation. The UKBA policy is clear: that a minimum use of force is a last resort, is only carried out by trained officers, is proportionate, and is used for the shortest period to ensure compliance. Senior UKBA officials on the flight did not witness any mistreatment by escorting staff. Matthew Coats Head of immigration, UK Border Agency