Section four Detainees under escort HMIP described as inhumane the use of ‘reserve’ detainees for charter flight removals. This involved overbooking flights with detainees who had said last goodbyes in the UK or were looking forward to returning home and, at the last minute, telling some that they were not flying after all. Detainees were not aware they were on this reserve list. HMIP recommended that this practice should cease, a recommendation supported by the Home Affairs Select Committee.23 Further monitoring and inspecting of overseas escorts by IMBs and HMIP will enable a broader picture of the treatment of and conditions for detainees during removals to be established. This will contribute to ensuring the safe and humane treatment of detainees during difficult conditions and at an incredibly stressful moment in their lives. The importance of this emerging area of work has been recognised by the Council of Europe’s European NPM project. Designed to create an active network of NPMs and facilitate the sharing of information and best practice, this project had a particular focus on overseas escorts in 2011–12. This began with a seminar in London, hosted by HMIP, and attended by representatives of the NPMs in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, as well as members of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and non-governmental organisations, such as the Association for the Prevention of Torture. The purpose of the seminar was to discuss specific issues arising from the monitoring of removals. During the seminar, it became clear that there may be scope for cooperation between European NPMs when monitoring flights operated by Frontex or those organised jointly by European states deporting detainees to the same country. Given the complexity of the issues and the level of interest from other NPMs in Europe, the project organised further workshops on overseas escorts in March and June 2012, both of which were attended by representatives of the UK NPM. Recommendations To escort commissioners and providers throughout the UK 2 Children and young people under the age of 18, women and adult men should be transported separately during escorts of detainees. 3 There should be effective mechanisms to transfer information about a detainee during moves between places of detention. In England and Wales, the design, format and use of the person escort record should provide for the consistent, effective and prompt exchange of information between all those responsible for a detainee moving location. 4 Security measures taken during the escorting of detainees should be proportionate to the risk posed and based on an assessment of individual detainees. To court services across the UK 5 There should be greater use of video conference links to minimise the need for detainees to travel long distances for short court appearances. To the UK Border Agency 6 An accredited system of restraint should be developed for use on board aircraft. All escorting staff should receive accredited training in the approved restraint techniques. 23 Home Affairs Select Committee, Rules governing enforced removals from the UK – Eighteenth Report of Session 2010–12 ( January 2012). 33