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Panorama - Immigration Centres

(9 Posts)
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Eloethan Wed 06-Sep-17 00:02:41

Did anyone watch the programme last night about the UK's immigration centres?

It was probably one of the most frightening, upsetting and appalling things I have seen on TV. Failed asylum seekers, and asylum seekers waiting for a decision as to whether they were to be removed are locked up with, and frequently terrorised by, dangerous foreign criminals. They have no idea how long they will be detained for and there were cases of people still there 2 years later.

Some of the staff - even at managerial level - were basically racist thugs and it is no wonder that the majority of detainees were suffering from severe depression and anxiety.

These centres, all of which I believe it was said are run by G4S which has been paid in excess of £1 million, are a disgrace to this country.

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travelsafar Sat 09-Sep-17 11:55:27

I missed this, thank you for reminding me, i will see if it is still oncatch up.

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durhamjen Sat 09-Sep-17 12:19:54

Yes, I watched it, Eloethan.
Absolutely appalling, and I do not believe that the man in charge of G4S did not know what was going on.
If he didn't, he just be sacked. If he did he should be sacked.
He wasn't doing his job either way.

I have lost count of the number of petitions I have signed to stop G4S getting government contracts.
I believe that May's husband used to have something to do with G4S.

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paddyann Sat 09-Sep-17 15:33:14

he still does DJ ,how do you think they GET all those government contracts?

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durhamjen Sat 09-Sep-17 16:47:14

I read he didn't any more, paddyann. Willing to be corrected, though.

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travelsafar Sun 10-Sep-17 07:27:26

I watched this program and it was horrific how inhuman some people can become when put in a position of authority and power. I was so full of admiration for the young reporter going to work in such a place with the other staff being such bullies and tyrants. He did a wonderful job in secretly recording what was happening. Our government should be ashamed and held to account for the employing of such a company who obviously are not dealing with their employees in a proper manner and leaving them to basically do as they please. No one is saying it is an easy place to work , but humanity must always take pride of place and it was sorely lacking here!!!

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durhamjen Mon 11-Sep-17 22:53:07

I hadn't realised that G4S is an international company, and they are just as bad in the rest of the world.

opendemocracy.net/shinealight/g4s-securing-whose-world

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silverlining48 Tue 12-Sep-17 08:23:33

Twas ever thus travelsofar, power and authority over others can change decent people. I am reminded of the american stamford university experiment in the 1950's with students participating and how quickly they became cruel and uncaring. ( i think it was stamford).

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Eloethan Tue 12-Sep-17 10:38:04

Yes silverlining, they had to abandon the experiment after a few days because the "guards" were becoming so sadistic that there was evidence the "prisoners" were suffering from severe depression and might be at risk of permanent psychological damage.

That is why proper staffing and continuous and rigorous oversight is needed in closed environments such as this. Instead, in order to maximise profits by cutting costs to the bone, these sorts of levels of staffing guarantee ill treatment and bullying.

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