Nine staff suspended over film of ‘assaults’ at immigrants centre
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NINE staff have been suspended from an immigration centre after claims of assaults on detainees.
An investigation has been launched into allegations by the BBC’s Panorama of “chaos, incompetence and abuse” at the centre near Gatwick airport, West Sussex.
The programme claims to have undercover footage showing officers “mocking, abusing and even assaulting detainees” at the centre where drugs are allegedly rife. Jerry Petherick, of G4S, which runs the Brook House Immiinspection gration Removal Centre, said: “There is no place for the type of conduct described in the allegations anywhere in G4S.
“Such behaviour is not representative of the many G4S colleagues who do a great job, often in difficult and challenging circumstances.
“We have not yet been provided with the recorded evidence which forms the basis of the allegations and it is inappropriate for me to pre-judge the outcome of our investigation.
“Once we have seen the evidence and concluded the investigation, I will ensure that we take the appropriate action. We continue to focus on the care and wellbeing of detainees at Brook House.”
The programme is due to be broadcast on BBC One at 9pm on Monday.
Brook House is one of two immigration centres run by G4S in the UK and can hold up to 508 adult men.
Concerns were raised in the latest report, which revealed four men had been held there for more than two years and that the average length of detention had increased from 28 to 48 days.
The report also highlighted issues with the “stark and impersonal” residential units and unsatisfactory sanitary facilities.
But overall the report in March by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said it was an “encouraging” inspection.
Brook House was deemed “reasonably good” in all four tests – safety, respect, activities and preparation for removal or release.
It is the latest in a number of scandals to hit G4S, which is responsible for five prisons in England and Wales.
Panorama uncovered alleged mistreatment of youngsters at a G4S youth detention centre in Medway, Kent, and Birmingham prison was hit by rioting last year.