Is the UK in danger of losing empathy for those seeking asylum whilst their claims are being processed? French health service documents injuries including fractures and bruising after detention and return under ‘one in one out’ scheme
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The pilot scheme involves one asylum seeker who crosses the Channel in a small boat being returned to France in return for another in northern France being legally brought to the UK to claim asylum. The scheme is due to end on 1 October.
Samusocial de Paris (SSP) has been commissioned by Île-de-France’s regional health agency to provide healthcare for asylum seekers returned to France in the first eight days after their deportation from the UK, when they are accommodated in a shelter in Paris.
They have documented the cases of 90 returnees between 22 January and 7 June 2026. All are young men, mostly in their 20s and early-30s, who sought sanctuary in the UK after fleeing a variety of conflict zones including Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan. About 1,400 people have been forcibly removed to France by the Home Office since the scheme began in August 2025.
The evidence compiled by SSP has been submitted to the French Assembly’s cross-party inquiry into the impact of the Anglo-French border deals known as Le Touquet agreements. This evidence comes from their own clinical consultations with returnees and some hospital reports from those sent to A&E.
According to the report: “Consultations are revealing signs consistent with recent physical and psychological violence as well as the consequences of prolonged detention in conditions described as particularly degrading.” It states that the physical and psychological conditions documented are “explicitly linked to the implementation of the France-British agreement”.
The report adds: “The frequency and recurrence of the incidents reported by people transferred under the Franco-British agreement appear particularly worrying.”
SSP recommends that a mechanism should be established to collect information on allegations of mistreatment by the British authorities that can be sent to the UK. It also suggests reporting this issue to the French prosecutor under article 40 of the French code of criminal procedure.
Nihal Osman, a programme coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières, which also provides health support for this group of returnees, said: “This one in one out agreement is a machine for psychological destruction. The deeply concerning physical injuries sustained whilst in detention in the United Kingdom, which we have documented among those deported, must be viewed in the light of a serious psychological deterioration.”
The UK Home Office and the company Mitie, which provides the guards for the asylum seekers, have been approached for comment.
For the poster who was arguing the toss on the definition of the word invasion
What would call the recent debacle in Cueta where 80,000 would be Moroccan migrants flooded this Spanish enclave.
An afternoon out?
Oh dear, not asylum seekers , men looking for freebies
Deportation officers ( similar to NHS and police staff) are trained in appropriate restraint methods. Risk of injury can be mitigated though not always removed. The aim of appropriate resistant is to reduce the risk of injury and restraint only used where necessary and as a last resort.
Every restraint intervention needs to be formally recorded in an incident report, with witness statements of al present and all injuries recorded on a body map and treated asap where necessary- e.g from broken bones, to skin tears etc to bruising. All such records must be handed over verbally, followed up in writing, to receiving country. There never would be just one officer escorting a detainee during the deportation process. If a detainee resists during the journey resting can be implemented in line with risk assessment and can include hand cuffing and for example waist belts restricting movement.
Receiving country will clinically assess, determine and document nature of and age of any injuries and whether consistent with restraint records of any injuries resulting during deportation process.
In the NHS, Police forces and detention facilities all complete restraint records and serious incident reports must be carefully scrutinised.
Prior to deportation the detainees must be formally risk and safety assessed particularly when a detainee has any past violent behaviour, has damaged property previously or tries to attempt to prevent lawful removal. That results in an escort plan what restraint to be used and in what circumstances etc. Escort officers can use handcuffs and waist belts where deemed appropriate in line with escort plan.
There are legal guidelines to support safe journey, transfer etc for all security firms the government employs.
Delila
I suppose it’s so much easier to argue minutely over the definition of a word, than to discuss the documented physical and psychological harms inflicted on failed asylum seekers returned to France from the UK under the “one-in-one-out” scheme?
I agree- a number are arriving seriously harmed and/or injured- that merits investigation.
The Lefty Wokes will always sanctify these people because it makes them seem, feel and look moraly superior
And you know this because?
Can anyone give any examples of * sanctifying these people* 🤷♀️ Or what morally superior behaviour might consist of?
25Avalon
Idk if they deserve it but they should be kept safe from harm just as our own citizens should be kept safe from harm.
...which they are not. Surely they can look after each other when there's 1,350 of them going to Piddington with it's population of just 350. 26 of the local population votes "no" in the mock devolution referendum so clearly not all Daily Mail readers!
WithNobsOnIt
For the poster who was arguing the toss on the definition of the word invasion
What would call the recent debacle in Cueta where 80,000 would be Moroccan migrants flooded this Spanish enclave.
An afternoon out?
"Flooded' overrun, filled to capacity' like a flood a fair enough description.
The Local Government estimates currently between 10,000 to 13,000 remain in Ceuta with approximately 2,000 of those unaccompanied minors. This in a city of 84,000 residents.
The Spanish migration ministry has rapidly set up reception centres and modular housing in the port area. The Spanish PM has announced long term plans to pare long term housing options for up to 10,000 people of that estimated 10- 13k number that remain. The children are reaching state funded care and education in specialist centres whilst the authorities are trying to locate their parents. All the adults that remain are having their asylum seeker claims processed which may or may not be granted and if not they will be deported.
Same international refugee legal framework for those seeking refugee status as any other country. The Spanish PM has responded quickly to support those that remain.
orly
25Avalon
Idk if they deserve it but they should be kept safe from harm just as our own citizens should be kept safe from harm.
...which they are not. Surely they can look after each other when there's 1,350 of them going to Piddington with it's population of just 350. 26 of the local population votes "no" in the mock devolution referendum so clearly not all Daily Mail readers!
The asylum seekers going to Piddington will not be awaiting deportation to France under the one in, one out scheme though.
The Bicester MOD site that is being converted is to house ASs whilst their claims are being processed. Not set up as a detention centre to safely house those assessed for deportation and removal from UK as in OP.
You are spot on Delila.
Ignore the OP.
Throw silly insults around.
The asylum seekers going to Piddington will not be awaiting deportation to France under the one in, one out scheme though
They are "all the same" aren't they? Like a swarm of flies?
I am totally appalled once again by the nasty rhetoric some contributors make on GN ! May you never require help !
If the asylum seekers are an invasion then surely the same word applies to the balaclava , black shirt wearing looking for a good fight mobs that have been seen in Portsmouth. They definitely qualify because of their aggression.
Cossy
Anyone and everyone should be safeguarded.
Even our worst awful criminals are afforded an element of safety.
Sadly, given the ill feeling and aggressive and violence language used by far too many towards Asylum Seekers, this doesn’t surprise me in the least.
My personal feelings are that this is shameful.
But when I look around our country, particularly since Brexit, the level of hatred and vitriolic attitudes towards certain groups, whilst shameful and shocking, it’s not a surprise.
It’s encourage by Restore and Reform and Yaxley-Lennon, and now these Patriots and Pink Ladies.
What on earth has happened to humanity?
If I had my way I’d happily select the aforementioned groups, ship them off to Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran, for a long long holiday, on a single ticket and let them make their own way back, ending with a little trip across the channel in a blow up boat.
I hope you don't have children and grandchildren, because with your attitude towards those that are trying so hard to save this country for the next generation to live peacefully in, if not we may just become Iran no2 !!!
Well said Cruiselover
There are none so blind as those who will not see..
How many hundreds are coming into the country and just disappearing?
And I think they will be coming in in much small boats all along that coastline may be half a dozen at a time and they too will disappear but no, it’s nothing to worry about. Nothing to see here.
Unfortunately, you will eat your words in the fullness of time
Shinamae
Well said Cruiselover
There are none so blind as those who will not see..
How many hundreds are coming into the country and just disappearing?
And I think they will be coming in in much small boats all along that coastline may be half a dozen at a time and they too will disappear but no, it’s nothing to worry about. Nothing to see here.
Unfortunately, you will eat your words in the fullness of time
There’s also a return to stowing away in lorries apparently. I saw footage yesterday of migrants waiting in the wings to jump on or under lorries to get to England.
Many people refuse to believe anyone arriving here is a genuine asylum seeker. My son-in-law works with the homeless and is the head of a project to find accommodation for asylum seekers in our city. When they are granted asylum, they very soon have to leave the hotels or hostels where they were accommodated. As a result they often ended up sleeping in the street, until they find their way to organisations which can help them. My son in law comes from a tough background and certainly isn’t a pushover for a sob story- far from it! - but he has seen and heard evidence of what has happened to these people, and he has been shocked. A couple of times he has been close to tears after a day’s work.
It would be terrible if there is also abuse happening in our country, a place where, even if they’re not granted leave to remain, they should be safe whilst they are here.
Cruiselover
Cossy
Anyone and everyone should be safeguarded.
Even our worst awful criminals are afforded an element of safety.
Sadly, given the ill feeling and aggressive and violence language used by far too many towards Asylum Seekers, this doesn’t surprise me in the least.
My personal feelings are that this is shameful.
But when I look around our country, particularly since Brexit, the level of hatred and vitriolic attitudes towards certain groups, whilst shameful and shocking, it’s not a surprise.
It’s encourage by Restore and Reform and Yaxley-Lennon, and now these Patriots and Pink Ladies.
What on earth has happened to humanity?
If I had my way I’d happily select the aforementioned groups, ship them off to Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran, for a long long holiday, on a single ticket and let them make their own way back, ending with a little trip across the channel in a blow up boat.I hope you don't have children and grandchildren, because with your attitude towards those that are trying so hard to save this country for the next generation to live peacefully in, if not we may just become Iran no2 !!!
Well said, none so blind etc.
IMO it will all end in a great conflict in Europe, battling to the death to defend and save our way of life and culture for future generations.
Shinamae
Well said Cruiselover
There are none so blind as those who will not see..
How many hundreds are coming into the country and just disappearing?
And I think they will be coming in in much small boats all along that coastline may be half a dozen at a time and they too will disappear but no, it’s nothing to worry about. Nothing to see here.
Unfortunately, you will eat your words in the fullness of time
I don't recall anybody ever saying that.
Uncontrolled migration isn't helpful for anybody.
I see plenty that is wrong but I am mindful that those trying to get here and the good , the bad and the indifferent. Just like any group of people.
Susieq62
I am totally appalled once again by the nasty rhetoric some contributors make on GN ! May you never require help !
Indeed.
May we never forget we are all human beings on this little planet of ours and that we in this country are a great deal better off than many people in the world.
May we have some generosity of spirit. Each person is someone's son or daughter, potentially with much to give.
Criticise, use the force of law against all who do evil, whatever the background
and never, ever generalise from a small number of offenders, again, whatever the background. These things I hold dear.
We must look at people as individuals, not as members of a category or a group. To generalise about people is to take the first step towards dehumanising them.
It’s actually quite a big planet but our own country is little, that’s the problem and no amount of ‘be nice!’ Cuts it.
Nobody should be harmed but most should be deported.
'Do Asylum seekers deserve to be kept safe from harm and injury on arrival in the UK?'
Some asylum seekers fight among themselves. At least some living in an HMO in North London opposite my friends do. The upstairs windows have been boarded up after being broken.. The only way to keep those particular occupants safe is for them to stop being violent with each other.
Betony surely you are not saying, "oh, they are all like that? You only need a couple to start a fight. I imagine other asylum seekers must be scared. Young men are prone to it, look at the horrible lads who killed two policeman in their car going the wrong way down a motorway.
Locally I have not heard of such violence buts its bound to happen sometimes, if only they could do voluntary work clearing rubbish and so in.
A and E on a Saturday is full of young men in drunken fights who abuse staff and waste. time.
We don't need to 'be nice' Oreo. A decent society just needs to be 'legal' in how it deals with asylum seekers.
Maremia
We don't need to 'be nice' Oreo. A decent society just needs to be 'legal' in how it deals with asylum seekers.
….and as far as we know our society is legal in its dealings with asylum seekers, even failed ones.
Unless it’s proved without a shadow of a doubt that it isn’t.
Migrants fight amongst themselves and maybe resist being moved back to France.
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