G4S has suspended nine members of staff from an immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport, following a BBC Panorama undercover investigation.<\/p>\n
The programme says it has covert footage recorded at Brook House showing officers “mocking, abusing and assaulting” people being held there.<\/p>\n
It says it has seen “widespread self-harm and attempted suicides” in the centre, and that drug use is “rife”.<\/p>\n
G4S said it is aware of the claims and “immediately” began an investigation.<\/p>\n
The security firm said it had not been provided with recorded evidence, but added: “There is no place for the type of conduct described.”<\/p>\n
The programme, to be aired on Monday, uses footage it says was recorded by a custody officer at the centre, which holds detainees facing deportation from the UK.<\/p>\n
Panorama says it has seen “chaos, incompetence and abuse” at the centre, which it describes as a “toxic mix”.<\/p>\n
It claims detainees who have overstayed visas or are seeking asylum in the UK can share rooms with foreign national criminals who have finished prison sentences.<\/p>\n
It also alleges that some detainees have been held in the privately-run centre for “many months, even years.”<\/p>\n
G4S said the staff suspensions were a “precaution” but it has reported the allegations to “the relevant authorities”.<\/p>\n
“Such behaviour is not representative of the many G4S colleagues who do a great job, often in difficult and challenging circumstances,” Jerry Petherick, managing director for G4S’ custodial and detention services in the UK, said,<\/p>\n
“Once we have seen the evidence and concluded the investigation, I will ensure that we take the appropriate action.<\/p>\n
“We continue to focus on the care and wellbeing of detainees at Brook House.”<\/p>\n
In response to the Panorama investigation, a Home Office spokesman said: “We condemn any actions that put the safety or dignity of immigration removal centre detainees at risk.<\/p>\n
“We are clear that all detainees should be treated with dignity and respect and we expect G4S to carry out a thorough investigation into these allegations and that all appropriate action be taken.”<\/p>\n
Brook House, which is operated privately by G4S on behalf of the Home Office, holds up to 508 adult male asylum seekers, illegal immigrants and foreign national offenders.<\/p>\n
The centre was opened in 2009 but a year later was branded “fundamentally unsafe”.<\/p>\n
A further report in 2012 found there were still “significant concerns”, but in 2013 inspectors saw sustained improvement.<\/p>\n
The most recent report\u00a0<\/a>from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, released in March this year, said some detainees had been held for excessive periods due to “unreasonable delays in immigration decision making”.<\/p>\n The report also described the residential units as “very closely resembling the conditions found in prisons”, saying problems were “exacerbated by poor ventilation and unsatisfactory sanitary facilities”.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"