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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Diane Taylor

CEO of Home Office contractor apologises for racist messages by staff

Mitie Home Office WhatsApp
Mitie’s chief executive, Phil Bentley, said he assured Priti Patel that ‘no stone will be left unturned’ in investigating the messages.
Mitie’s chief executive, Phil Bentley, said he assured Priti Patel that ‘no stone will be left unturned’ in investigating the messages. Photograph: Mitie

The chief executive of top Home Office contractor Mitie has apologised to the home secretary personally after a series of racist WhatsApp messages shared between Mitie staff emerged.

The messages, revealed by the Sunday Mirror, include derogatory references to Chinese people. Mitie admitted to the Guardian that it received complaints two years ago about the messages but failed to “escalate them”.

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