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Serco summoned before MPs over report into sexual assault allegations at Yarl’s Wood (19 May 2014)

Date: 19/05/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Serco summoned before MPs over report into sexual assault allegations at Yarl’s Wood

MPs are to investigate Serco – which provides services to the Ministry of Justice and Home Office – after a secret report by the company revealed that it had failed to properly investigate allegations of assault on a detainee at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Centre by a member of Serco’s staff.

Yarl’s Wood has been at the centre of a campaign over the treatment of women being held at the detention centre awaiting deportation from the UK.

Last year, campaigners took to the streets of London calling for women held at Yarl’s Wood to be released. Earlier this year, a woman awaiting deportation back to her home country Jamaica collapsed and died suddenly from a suspected heart attack.

The Guardian reports that MPs will be investigating allegations of repeated sexual assaults by a member of Serco’s staff on a female detainee at Yarl’s Wood, which is locate din Bedfordshire.

Guardian News and Media mounted a four-month legal battle against Serco to get the confidential report into the alleged assaults published.

The document was published last week after a court ruled it should be made public – lawyers have said the ruling is a victory for greater transparency and claim the contents of the report show “a culture of disbelief” towards women being held at the detention centre.

The report gives details of the repeated sexual assault of a 29-year-old woman from Pakistan being held at Yarl’s Wood – the woman claims she was sexually assaulted by a health worker employed by Serco. The assaults took place between November 2010 and January 2011.

The allegations are as yet unsubstantiated, despite investigations by both the Home Office and the police.

MPs are reported to be angry at Serco’s handling of the case, however, including statements in the report by Serco, saying that the victim’s claims lacked credibility because her statements were too consistent and detailed.

It was also mentioned in the report that a Serco guard suggested the woman might receive “guidance” to “assist her objectivity”.

Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz MP, called the report “shocking” – and has pledged to summon senior executives from Serco to explain their actions to Parliament in June.

Mr Vaz said:

“These are shocking revelations – and they demonstrate to me that an internal investigation is not enough.

“It's clearly the tip of the iceberg as far as these allegations are concerned and the way Serco has dealt with them.

"There needs to be an external examination following these revelations – which will look at the entire history of the allegations, but also look carefully at the way in which Serco manage other properties of this kind.

"Serco will need to appear before the committee at our next inquiry looking at the whole procurement process, which we will be conducting very shortly."

Serco’s director at Yarl’s Wood, Norman Abusin, told The Guardian:

“Our managers and staff work hard to establish and maintain good relationships with the residents.

“The most recent HM Chief Inspector of Prisons inspection report – issued in October 2013 – considered it to be an establishment where residents feel safe and there is little violence.

“Sexual contact between residents and staff is always completely unacceptable,” he added.

“We view any complaint of this type of behaviour extremely seriously and have strict procedures for dealing with any such complaints: they are always investigated and the necessary disciplinary action is always taken, including informing the relevant authorities.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Lawyers

Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers can advise on UK immigration law and asylum, including asylum appeals.

Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers can also advise on a detainee’s rights while being held pending deportation from the UK – including matters such as family separation and a detainee’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights – Right to Family and Private Life.

For expert legal advice on immigration law in the UK, contact Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For urgent help with immigration law call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.

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