G4S suspends nine employees over 'abuse of migrants'

Security firm G4S has suspended nine members of staff at an immigration removal centre while it investigates alleged abuse in the treatment of migrants, the company said today.

It follows BBC Panorama saying it has covert footage recorded at Brook House showing officers “mocking, abusing and assaulting” people being held there.

Shocking failures in safety including “widespread self-harm and attempted suicides” have also been seen, programme makers said, and drug use is “rife”.

“We have received written allegations of abhorrent conduct at Brook House and on that basis we have deemed it serious enough to suspend the staff involved,” a spokeswoman for the company said.

The centre, near Gatwick Airport, is staffed by more than 200 employees and has around 500 occupants.

G4S said it had reported the incident to the police.