A
planned deportation flight to Jamaica has gone ahead despite a court battle
between the government and campaigners. The Home Office lost a court ruling
yesterday after a judge said some of the detainees did not have proper access
to legal advice. Chancellor Sajid Javid told Sky News those being kicked out
were "not British" and were guilty of serious offences. The move has
been criticised by campaigners who say some of the people have lived in the UK
since they were children, committed one-time offences when they were young and
have no links with Jamaica.
https://detentionaction.org.uk/2020/02/05/press-release-05-02-2020/
"Every single person on the flight is a foreign national offender," said Mr Javid. "They are not British, they are not members of the Windrush-Generation and they are all guilty of serious crimes, receiving custodial sentences of at least 12 months." The chancellor said they were guilty of crimes such as manslaughter, rape, dealing class A drugs. It is not known how many people are on the flight, but a government statement suggested it was complying with the court ruling. The charity Detention Action said it believed some of those due for deportation were not on board because they were covered by the court order. The detainees - believed to number around 56 - were being held at two centres near Heathrow airport. More than 150 politicians had written to the prime minister calling on him to stop the deportation until a report is published on the lessons learned from the Windrush scandal.
Monday's Court of Appeal ruling
came after lawyers said some detainees could not get adequate access to legal
advice because of problems with an O2 phone mast near the detention centres. Lady
Justice Simler ordered the Home Office not to remove anyone "unless
satisfied (they) had access to a functioning, non-O2 SIM card on or before 3
February". Last year, 29 convicted criminals were
deported to Jamaica on the first
deportation flight since the Windrush scandal. The Home Office previously said
that under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a
foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial
sentence of 12 months or more. Possible exceptions include where this would
breach human rights or the UK's obligations under the Refugee Convention. ENDS:
https://detentionaction.org.uk/2020/02/05/press-release-05-02-2020/
"Every single person on the flight is a foreign national offender," said Mr Javid. "They are not British, they are not members of the Windrush-Generation and they are all guilty of serious crimes, receiving custodial sentences of at least 12 months." The chancellor said they were guilty of crimes such as manslaughter, rape, dealing class A drugs. It is not known how many people are on the flight, but a government statement suggested it was complying with the court ruling. The charity Detention Action said it believed some of those due for deportation were not on board because they were covered by the court order. The detainees - believed to number around 56 - were being held at two centres near Heathrow airport. More than 150 politicians had written to the prime minister calling on him to stop the deportation until a report is published on the lessons learned from the Windrush scandal.
ALSO READ: https://crimenewsjournal.blogspot.com/
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& www.drugscope.org.uk
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& www.childline.org.uk/
& www.youngminds.org.uk/
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