We are pleased to report that a legal challenge has been brought to the use of force against pregnant women and children in immigration detention by UKBA and private security contractors. The High Court granted an interim injunction preventing force from being used against the claimants (a woman 30 weeks pregnant and her small children) in the case until their claim is determined.
The Home Secretary has failed to put in place a policy regulating the use of force following her rejection of the Prison Inspector’s recommendation that force can only be used where there is a risk of harm to self or another.
The judge, Mr Justice Collins, expressed grave concern about the Home Secretary’s decision to continue to the use of force against pregnant women and children without a policy in place. The full judicial review will be heard soon.
You can read about the background to the case in this Guardian article.