UK immigration officials suspended over assault

Unpublished
Gatwick, UK - G4S has suspended nine members of staff from an immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport, following a BBC Panorama undercover investigation. The programme says it has covert footage recorded at Brook House showing officers "mocking, abusing and assaulting" people being held there. It says it has seen "widespread self-harm and attempted suicides" in the centre, and that drug use is "rife". G4S said it is aware of the claims and "immediately" began an investigation. The security firm said it had not been provided with recorded evidence, but added: "There is no place for the type of conduct described." BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said those suspended were one female nurse, six detention custody officers, and two managers, who were all male. He said he understood several other members of staff had also been placed on restrictive duties. 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. Panorama says it has seen "chaos, incompetence and abuse" at the centre, which it describes as a "toxic mix". It claims detainees who are failed asylum seekers can share rooms with foreign national criminals who have finished prison sentences. G4S said the staff suspensions were a "precaution" but it reported the allegations to "the relevant authorities".(FA)

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