I think there could be a (hopefully) simple change/reinforcement to the irrop handling to ask vulnerable/troublesome passengers if they would like someone to be added to this from the airside terminals.

My general feeling reading this is that like many things it seems like an absolute disaster when in the middle of it, but things have a way of working out. It does take a little human kindness, but luckily there is still plenty of that to be had as long as the corporate façade doesn't make it too inaccessible.

I'd like to think that the widespread use of the DPA is cock-up rather than conspiracy, but it does create a framework where good deeds will remain undone due to fear and confusion, with little case law AFAIK to help create a set of tested defences. I suspect more people have suffered from it being used in internal employment termination processes than those that had a legal hearing.