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| Nine G4S staff at immigration removal suspended | Nine G4S staff at immigration removal suspended |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| G4S has suspended nine members of staff from an immigration removal centre near Gatwick Airport, following a BBC Panorama undercover investigation. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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". | G4S said the staff suspensions were a "precaution" but it reported the allegations to "the relevant authorities". |
| "Once we have seen the evidence and concluded the investigation, I will ensure that we take the appropriate action," Jerry Petherick, managing director for G4S' custodial and detention services in the UK, said in a statement. | "Once we have seen the evidence and concluded the investigation, I will ensure that we take the appropriate action," Jerry Petherick, managing director for G4S' custodial and detention services in the UK, said in a statement. |
| Mr Petherick later told the BBC his company "continually look at vetting and training" and the initial training course is eight weeks, with "ongoing developmental training" after. | Mr Petherick later told the BBC his company "continually look at vetting and training" and the initial training course is eight weeks, with "ongoing developmental training" after. |
| "We continue to focus on the care and wellbeing of detainees at Brook House," he added. | "We continue to focus on the care and wellbeing of detainees at Brook House," he added. |
| Who are the detainees? | Who are the detainees? |
| Brook House is currently home to 508 men - with the highest numbers coming from Pakistan, Albania, Nigeria, Afghanistan and India. | |
| According to the Home Office, the majority of those held are failed asylum seekers or illegal immigrants waiting to be deported from the UK on organised charter flights. | According to the Home Office, the majority of those held are failed asylum seekers or illegal immigrants waiting to be deported from the UK on organised charter flights. |
| Other detainees include foreign national offenders awaiting transfers and those who are considered too challenging to manage in less secure centres. | Other detainees include foreign national offenders awaiting transfers and those who are considered too challenging to manage in less secure centres. |
| Brook House is one of 11 detention removal centres in England, which together took in 28,908 people last year - including 71 children. | Brook House is one of 11 detention removal centres in England, which together took in 28,908 people last year - including 71 children. |
| During the year, 28,661 people left detention - of which 64% were held for less than 29 days, 18% for between 29 days and 2 months, and 11% for between two and four months. | During the year, 28,661 people left detention - of which 64% were held for less than 29 days, 18% for between 29 days and 2 months, and 11% for between two and four months. |
| Of the 1,848 (6%) remaining, 179 had been in detention for between one and two years, and 29 for two years or longer. | Of the 1,848 (6%) remaining, 179 had been in detention for between one and two years, and 29 for two years or longer. |
| Our correspondent said half of the people in Brook House are foreign nationals convicted of crimes and awaiting deportation. | Our correspondent said half of the people in Brook House are foreign nationals convicted of crimes and awaiting deportation. |
| "Some of them aren't just there for hours or days - some of them are there for weeks and months - so there is a huge amount of frustration being built up," he said. | "Some of them aren't just there for hours or days - some of them are there for weeks and months - so there is a huge amount of frustration being built up," he said. |
| He added that several prisons run by G4S had received positive inspection reports. | He added that several prisons run by G4S had received positive inspection reports. |
| "But there is no doubt these allegations are really disturbing and are bad news for the company," he added. | "But there is no doubt these allegations are really disturbing and are bad news for the company," he added. |
| "It raises really serious questions about this private company and whether it is capable of managing institutions like this in the future." | "It raises really serious questions about this private company and whether it is capable of managing institutions like this in the future." |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "We condemn any actions that put the safety or dignity of immigration removal centre detainees at risk. | A Home Office spokesman said: "We condemn any actions that put the safety or dignity of immigration removal centre detainees at risk. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Past controversies and criticisms | Past controversies and criticisms |
| Brook House is operated privately by G4S on behalf of the Home Office. | Brook House is operated privately by G4S on behalf of the Home Office. |
| The firm works in a number of sectors, including technology, care and justice services, and cash transportation, and has 585,000 employees across 100 countries worldwide. | The firm works in a number of sectors, including technology, care and justice services, and cash transportation, and has 585,000 employees across 100 countries worldwide. |
| However, it has also attracted controversies and accusations of mismanagement. | However, it has also attracted controversies and accusations of mismanagement. |
| In 2014, it paid £109m for overcharging the Ministry of Justice for tagging offenders, while it also received heavy criticism for its handling of security at the London Olympics, in 2012. | In 2014, it paid £109m for overcharging the Ministry of Justice for tagging offenders, while it also received heavy criticism for its handling of security at the London Olympics, in 2012. |
| Last year, criminal proceedings were launched against eight G4S staff at the Medway Secure Training Centre - a prison for young people - following another Panorama investigation. | Last year, criminal proceedings were launched against eight G4S staff at the Medway Secure Training Centre - a prison for young people - following another Panorama investigation. |
| In 2010 - a year after opening - Brook House was branded "fundamentally unsafe". | In 2010 - a year after opening - Brook House was branded "fundamentally unsafe". |
| A further report in 2012 found there were still "significant concerns", but in 2013 inspectors saw sustained improvement. | A further report in 2012 found there were still "significant concerns", but in 2013 inspectors saw sustained improvement. |
| The most recent report 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". | The most recent report 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". |
| 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". | 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". |
| A review of improvements made at the centre will begin on Monday. | A review of improvements made at the centre will begin on Monday. |
| Watch Panorama - Undercover: Britain's Immigration Secrets - on Monday 4 September at 21:00 BST on BBC One and afterwards on BBC iPlayer. | Watch Panorama - Undercover: Britain's Immigration Secrets - on Monday 4 September at 21:00 BST on BBC One and afterwards on BBC iPlayer. |