MONITORING ACTIVITIES EYEWITNESS TO FORCED DEPORTATIONS BY THE POLICE would go underground. However, the entire family had previously gone into hiding from the authorities and still refused to leave Denmark – the police therefore decided to detain the family prior to the day of deportation. THE DEPARTURE FROM ‘ELLEBÆK’ Two weeks after the family had been picked up at ‘Center Avnstrup’, three staff members from ‘Ellebæk’ were ready to hand over the family to the police. The father and son seemed nervous, but they did not resist. The police constables explained that they had to search them in order to make sure that they did not carry any dangerous items. Simultaneously, two women police constables picked up the mother in the cell where she had been detained. They searched her, and she did not resist. The mother also did not protest about having to wear an adult diaper. The police constables explained that the diaper was necessary since she had been drinking soapy water the same morning to avoid being deported. Adult diapers in connection with forced deportations are not mentioned in the international or national guidelines on forced deportations. The Ombudsman has expressed the opinion that the use of an adult diaper implies a considerable risk of violating the individual’s dignity. In this case, the Ombudsman assessed that the adult diaper was necessary and justifiable in these specific circumstances because the woman had been drinking soapy water. PROTESTS AT COPENHAGEN AIRPORT At 1:30 pm, the police drove the Afghan family directly to the plane’s parking stand at Copenhagen Airport in a police car. The family members got out of the car, but when they reached the steps to the plane, they refused to board. At the same time, they began shouting in English that they would be killed in Afghanistan. The police constables tried unsuccessfully to calm the family members down. After a few minutes, the police fixated their wrists. The 69 D EP O RTAT I O N S In Denmark, the police attend to foreign nationals’ departure if they do not leave the country voluntarily. Forced deportations can be effected as ‘supervised departure’ or ‘escorted departure’. – In cases of supervised departure, the police supervise the departure from Denmark, for example the boarding of a plane at Copenhagen Airport. – In cases of escorted departure, the police accompany the foreign national out of Denmark and to his or her home country or a third country where he or she is entitled to stay. Usually, escorted departure takes place with a scheduled flight, but the police sometimes use specially chartered planes which they charter alone or together with other countries. Joint flights can also be organised by the EU border agency, Frontex. Monitoring Pursuant to section 30 a of the Aliens Act, the Ombudsman monitors forced deportations. The objective of the monitoring is to supervise that the Danish National Police acts with respect for the individual and without any unnecessary use of force. Between April 2011 and December 2015, members of the Ombudsman’s staff have monitored 59 forced deportation. – 13 deportations were monitored departures. – 46 deportations were escorted departures. During the above period, the Ombudsman’s staff members have screened 2,178 cases and reviewed in detail 215 cases.