Waist and leg restraints used on asylum seekers deported from UK, report finds

Waist and leg restraints were used on asylum seekers being escorted back to France as part of the Government’s “one in, one out” scheme, an inspection has revealed.

Records from three removals showed “force” had used been five times in total, with waist restraints put on three men.

The report by Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, said two of them remained in the belts for the duration of their removal after they “demonstrated continuing resistance”.

The two also had leg restraints applied so they could be carried onto the transporting vehicle and plane.

“In the first case, the leg restraints were removed quickly once they were on the vehicle, but for the latter detainee they remained on while they travelled,” the report said.

“Arm holds” were used on the two men to restrain them in their seat when they became disruptive after the plane landed in France.

A paramedic saw all three men once the belts and restraints were removed, and inspectors concluded the use of force “seemed justified”.

Mr Taylor’s team inspected a flight in January where no restraints had to be used, but his report referenced records of other removals.

An operation the week before the inspection had been disrupted by a detainee protest, which “required deployment of specialist national resources” to deal with, his report added.

“Despite the concerns of some detainees about the potential use of force during this subsequent operation, inspectors observed that escort staff remained consistently professional and respectful in all interactions,” Mr Taylor concluded.

An inspection of a deportation flight in November last year found two members of the Home Office team fell asleep on the job.

Inspectors said two escort staff, who had been allocated to one person, were “asleep at the same time” – describing it as “unprofessional behaviour”.

The Government’s one in, one out deal came into force in August to send migrants who have arrived across the Channel back to France, and to bring approved asylum seekers via a safe route to the UK.

A total of 41,472 migrants arrived in the UK in 2025 after crossing the English Channel – the second highest annual figure on record.

There have been 5,136 arrivals so far this year.