CHARLES CLARKE’S controversial Zimbabwean deportation policy was in disarray last night as Home Office officials argued over whether a ban on expulsions has been imposed.

The confusion came after an immigration tribunal hearing in London was told that forced removals had been halted. Within minutes the Home Office claimed to know nothing of such a change in policy.

Critics of the controversial forced expulsions of scores of Zimbabweans in recent weeks demanded that the Home Secretary make an emergency Commons statement over what is happening to the 125 asylum-seekers facing deportation.

The confusion emerged when Peter Armstrong, a Home Office reporting officer, said during a bail application by two detainees on hunger strike that “returns have been halted”. But the Home Office insisted that the policy had not changed. One woman is scheduled to be flown home tonight.

Earlier yesterday, a High Court judge called on Mr Clarke to halt the deportations to Harare. The judge intervened after the Refugee Legal Council said that there was evidence that those sent back are in danger.

Mr Justice Collins said that he cannot order the Home Secretary at this stage but urged Mr Clarke to stop forced removals until “this is sorted out”. He increased the pressure on Mr Clarke by saying that he believed that it would be wrong to ignore this call made during a hearing of four Zimbabweans facing deportation.

The plight of asylum-seekers who have been tortured on their return was first revealed in The Times.

Last night the Home Secretary said that he is carefully considering the judge’s comments. The court hearing came just hours after Mr Clarke had told MPs that he would not back down on the expulsions.

Yesterday’s events in court have forced Mr Clarke on to the defensive after days in which he has defied mounting criticism and insisted that deportees came to no harm.

Last night refugee groups welcomed the judge’s remarks. Katrina Phillips, of the Zimbabwe Association, said: “It is unfortunate that it had to go to the courts and that many people have already gone back to face torture.”

Maeve Sherlock, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “This High Court decision reflects an obvious fact: that it is clearly unsafe to send anyone back to Zimbabwe.”

The detainees who were on Day 15 of their hunger strike were last night deciding whether to end their protest. A final decision on the fate of the Zimbabwean asylum-seekers will be made early next month.

During yesterday’s hearing the judge condemned the botched deportation of a Zimbabwean woman who is now in hiding in Harare in fear of her life. He criticised Securicor, the private security company, which had escorted the woman on a flight out of the country after the Home Office had cancelled the removal order. Securicor said that the fax sent from immigration officials had been dealt with by an untrained temporary member of staff.

The judge said: “How anyone could fail to appreciate the significance of a fax from the Home Office telling them removal directions had been cancelled frankly escapes me. Even a half-wit would understand.”

Last night refugee groups were celebrating the release of a Zimbabwean opposition figure just days after he defied Home Office efforts to deport him. Crespen Kulingi, whose plight was revealed in The Times, was granted bail after an asylum tribunal hearing.

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