TOPICS Communication and information Where possible, detainees awaiting deportation should be given the opportunity to receive unrestricted visits from relatives and nongovernmental organisations. In order to maintain or establish contact with their families and their home country and to facilitate their return, they should also be permitted to use mobile phones and should be given access to the internet. people may also be handed over at land borders (722 in 14 2012) and at ports (10 in 2012). Forced returns by air are regulated in a confidential document entitled “Provisions Concerning the Forced Return of Foreign Nationals by Air” drawn up by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The Federal Police do not, however, accompany all forced returns by air. Rather, the majority of returnees (4,865 in 2012) leave unaccompanied. That means that the Federal Police accompany them to the aeroplane but they then take the scheduled flight unaccompanied. Only around one sixth of all forced returns in 2012 was accompanied, the majority of them constituting collective returns. Collective returns are either organised with the support of the EU or by Germany alone. Germany is sometimes involved in forced returns organised by other EU states. A doctor and a professional interpreter are always involved in accompanied forced returns. The Federal Police are generally responsible for delivering returnees to the Land authorities at the airport of departure. Several boarding areas are available at large airports for processing collective returns. This is where the hand-over formalities take place, in the context of which the Land authorities must also inform the Federal Police of any known mental or physical illnesses or other circumstances which might possibly affect the person in question’s ability to fly. Returnees then check in their luggage, complete the normal boarding procedure and wait to board the plane. They are guarded by the Federal Police throughout this entire time up until they board the plane. They are given food and drink and then a food package for the flight. Returnees are handed over to the target country’s authorities at the target airport. Forced returns at Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Hamburg airports are regularly monitored by church organisations, although they have no right to inspect the files and may also only monitor the measure on the ground. Forums have been established in which the authorities and deportation monitors regularly share experience regarding deportation, critical cases and possible improvements. The Federal Agency is in regular contact with these organisations so as to be able to reach agreement on monitoring standards. When carrying out monitoring activities at the aforementioned airports the Federal Agency always tries to organise a meeting with the monitors. In addition, in 2012 and 2013 it took part in meetings held by these organisations; there are plans to continue this regular exchange of experience. In Purposeful and recreational activities Those in custody pending deportation should be given the opportunity to use their time sensibly on a daily basis. They should be offered the possibility of doing sports, a variety of group activities and, where possible, of engaging in ancillary employment. They should be able to prepare their own meals, and a common room and a prayer room or chapel should be available for their use. Further, detainees awaiting deportation should have access to daily news and reading material. Clothing Detainees awaiting deportation should be permitted to wear their own clothes and given access to facilities for washing those clothes where security reasons do not pose an obstacle in the individual case. Deportation after serving a prison sentence Some detainees awaiting deportation who are serving a prison sentence are not deported at the end of the prison sentence, but are taken into custody pending deportation until their deportation. The competent authorities should ensure that in such cases deportations are carried out at the end of the prison sentence in order to avoid further unnecessary deprivations of liberty in custody pending deportation. 1.6 – MONITORING RETURN FLIGHTS In 2013 the Federal Agency for the first time accompanied two collective returns. It first monitored a measure from Düsseldorf Airport to Macedonia and Serbia organised by Frontex and later a national measure from Dresden Airport to Poland. Forced returns are carried out against people who are required to leave Germany. These may be people whose residence permit has expired and who have not voluntarily left the country within the time-limit set, people who are refused entry or are deported at the border, failed asylum-seekers and refugees, as well as criminals who are deported immediately after serving their prison sentence. The Federal Police are responsible for the majority of forced returns by air (6,919 in 2012). However, 14 The following statistics all refer to the year 2012 and were quoted in Bundestag Printed Paper 17/12442. 25