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Serco chief apologises for failure in standards at Yarl’s Wood (25 June 2014)

Date: 25/06/2014
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, Serco chief apologises for failure in standards at Yarl’s Wood

The chief executive of Serco's UK central government division, Dr Bob McGuiness, has issued an apology, after it was revealed 10 Serco employees have been dismissed following allegations of improper sexual contact with detainees at Yarl’s Wood women’s immigration detention centre in Bedfordshire.

The Guardian reports that Dr McGuiness made his apology after Serco executives appeared before MPs at the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to answer questions over allegations of improper sexual contact between Serco staff and female detainees awaiting deportation at Yarl’s Wood.

The allegations focus on 31 cases, which occurred over the last seven years.

The 10 staff dismissals relate to eight cases of improper sexual contact with detainees at Yarl’s Wood. The allegations came to light after a 29-year-old woman from Pakistan claimed a male Serco health worker had sexually assaulted her at Yarl’s Wood and The Observer published details of an internal report into the allegations.

There have also been reports that vulnerable women being held at Yarl’s Wood flirted with male employees or had sexual relations with them in the hope of obtaining favourable treatment.

Serco said it had found no evidence of any current improper relationships between staff or male guards at Yarl’s Wood and female detainees – and a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons had found no evidence of a wider culture of victimisation or systematic abuse at Yarl's Wood.

Dr McGuiness said:

"We set very high standards for ourselves and our staff. On those instances where we have fallen short of the standards that we have set for ourselves, I absolutely am sorry and apologise for these cases."

Labour MP David Winnick has said that the Home Affairs Select Committee would like to investigate further the allegations of improper sexual contact between male staff and female detainees at Yarl’s Wood.

The detention centre has been the focus of campaigners who have called for the female detainees to be released.

Mr Winnick said any further investigations would involve obtaining statements from detainees at Yarl’s Wood and their representatives.

“I am not satisfied – and I very much doubt if my colleagues are,” he said.

“The allegations are so serious, we can't leave at that."

In May, The Guardian reported that the Labour Party had called for an inquiry into how Serco was running Yarl’s Wood, after claiming that Serco had failed to “properly investigate” the allegations of sex abuse at the detention centre.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“These are shocking allegations of a despicable nature. We asked the government to instigate a joint inquiry of Serco operations by the prisons and borders inspectors over two months ago.
“That action is now unavoidable and the government must accept our case and hold that inquiry.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can advise on immigration and asylum in the UK, including asylum appeals.

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can also advise on illegal entry to the UK and detention pending deportation from the UK – as well as the rights of detainees, including access to health services and mental health services.

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


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