Letter: Inquiry into deportee's death

THE Home Office has diverted attention from its own role in the death of Joy Gardner by focusing investigation on the actions of police officers, as Peter Victor made clear in his article 'Labour puts on the pressure for inquiry into death of Joy Gardner' (20 March).

This is not good enough. The death of Mrs Gardner, who lived in my constituency, was horrific. Barbaric equipment is used in deportations, such as bodybelts, which are not used by police to restrain even the most violent of criminals in

police stations.

There must be a public inquiry which should look into Joy Gardner's death as well as Home Office policy and practice in deportations.

Barbara Roche MP

House of Commons

London SW1