Interviews: Karen Abdel-Hady and Jo Henney1 Karen Abdel-Hady is Deputy Director, Head of Detention Operations, Returns Directorate, Enforcement and Crime Group, UKBA. Jo Henney is Centre Manager of IRC Harmondsworth, run by GEO. Interview with Karen Abdel-Hady PSJ: What are your primary responsibilities in UKBA? KAH: My primary responsibility is the management and leadership of several discrete teams who are all part of the process to enforce the removal of those people who have no basis to remain here, and where they have refused to leave the country voluntarily. Specifically I am responsible for:  The Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit, who manage the population by positioning people, for example for documentation interviews with High Commissions and removal directions. This team also monitors the escorting contract.  Teams within the Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) and Cedars Pre-departure Accommodation who provide UKBA contact with detainees and monitor the contractor or prison service that run the IRC.  Two small teams, one of which is involved in the family returns process and the other who provide internal audits of the IRCs to ensure compliance with the Detention Centre Rules and Detention Service Orders (DSOs). PSJ: How did you come to work in this area? KAH: I have worked in UKBA for over 20 years in a variety of roles, starting out as an immigration officer. In recent years I held a position in the Criminal Casework Directorate who consider the deportation of foreign national offenders and had lots of dealings with staff within detention operations and the immigration removal estate. When the opportunity arose for a role within the team I was keen to take it on and try and make a positive difference in a complex and highly important part of the removal system. PSJ: How do you see your job in UKBA developing over the next 5 years? KAH: A requirement to deliver an increased number of removals with a continued emphasis on dignified and safe detention and removal. Whilst increasing removals, my role will need to ensure a more efficient and effective service, providing excellent value 1. 8 for money, and will continue to involve work with both the private sector and the prison service. PSJ: What are the things you are most proud of in your work? KAH: The staff I work with and our role in keeping the public safe by removing those who have no right to be in the UK, particularly those who have offended whilst staying here. The positive impact that my teams have in ensuring that escorting is safe and dignified and that the immigration removal estate is a safe and secure environment where voluntary returns are successfully promoted. PSJ: What is the most difficult aspect of your job? KAH: The role of UKBA is challenging but there are some areas that are particularly difficult, for example family returns which must be handled sensitively and in line with UKBA’s safeguarding duties. Another particularly challenging area is dealing with those who have exhausted the legal process, have no right to be in the UK but who are non-compliant with the removal process. PSJ: What is UKBA doing particularly well at the moment? KAH: Recently there has been a significant improvement in how UKBA work with the prison service, in particular in the arrangements for handling foreign national offenders. There has also been a major improvement in UKBA’s work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which has resulted in improved processes for obtaining documentation from foreign governments which is needed to facilitate an individual’s removal from the UK. PSJ: What are some of the challenges it is facing? KAH: The challenges UKBA face remains fairly constant. Like all government departments resource constraints have an impact and the requirement to do more with less. In addition, ensuring that the positive work UKBA does is understood and acknowledged by the public and staff alike can be a challenge, given the potentially emotive subject of removing those who have no right to remain in the UK. PSJ: What particular issues are thrown up by having a range of IRC providers? The interviewees were sent a number of questions, which were answered in writing and are reproduced here. Prison Service Journal Issue 205