Racist slurs made by staff at a firm paid by the Home Office are being investigated.
The vile WhatsApp messages were posted by Mitie workers who escort migrants and run detention centres. Home Secretary Priti Patel is under pressure to act. Yet even she was a target for abuse.
A source said: “The racism is disgusting.”
Sickening racism is exposed at the firm paid millions to humanely remove migrants from Britain.
A whistleblower has revealed vile messages were traded on a WhatsApp group set up for 80 employees of Mitie.
They included:
- “Jokes” about Syrian refugees swimming to the UK and a swipe at “slanty eyed” Chinese people.
- Hilarity at claims of physical injuries to detainees.
- A lewd reference to black MP Diane Abbott.
- A xenophobic jibe at Home Secretary Priti Patel.
- Mocking of TV’s Gary Lineker for inviting refugees into his home.
Tonight the Home Office ordered a probe and Mitie – on a 10-year, £525million government contract – confirmed some staff had been suspended.
The whistleblower told us: “There is no care. It’s utterly toxic. Casual racism amongst workers towards those they are supposed to look after is disgusting.
“Detainee custody officers (DCOs) are acting on behalf of the Home Office – but the reality of how many behave is a joke.”
Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock labelled the WhatsApp group “sickening” and called for a review of Mitie’s contract.
He said: “The Home Office is fast becoming a national embarrassment.”
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Mitie, which has strong Tory links, runs detention centres and is responsible for the removal of illegal immigrants and deportation of foreign criminals.
The racism was within its Care and Custody division, handling 13,000 detainees.
Mitie describes it as providing “critical public services for vulnerable adults in immigration/care/custody”.
Offensive messages have been exchanged since March 2020 in an unofficial group set up for DCOs to share updates.
The group – called Escorts meet and greet – has since been shut down.
Care & Custody is responsible for escorting immigration detainees on removal flights to heir home countries. It pledges to “[uphold] the welfare of those in our care at all times.”
Yet the WhatsApp group shows racism is “rife” among £21,000-a-year DCOs, the whistleblower said.
In lockdown, when pubs were shut, one employee posted a sign saying “closed due to slanty-eyed c****” – a reference to Covid’s origins in Wuhan, China.
An article about Priti Patel deporting a dozen Albanian criminals was also shared, prompting one employee to respond: “Didn’t see her on the flight, what coach was she on?”
A detainee, meanwhile, is described as having “slashed himself up in the coach toilet”, with the DCO adding: “We dragged him out.”
Another remarked: “I got accused of breaking a wrist on that job too” – to which someone posted cry-laughing emojis.
In a reference to migrants arriving by sea, a member wrote: “They can only stay if they swim all the way”, with another replying “What, you mean from Syria?”
It is not known if that was posted before or after 27 migrants drowned when their boat capsized in the Channel last November.
A picture was shared of a dinghy of black migrants with the caption “Where Gary Lineker’s house?” – a reference to the Match of the Day star housing a refugee.
Images of Diane Abbott were shared twice, one prompting a sexual remark.
Messages were reported to management and the WhatsApp thread was deleted last month.
A message announced: “Due to screenshotting and reporting of colleagues, the committee feels the group and its users are at risk of continued investigations. The decision has been made to close the group and erase all its history.”
Some members reacted with anger, with one moaning: “Really sad in a job that demands discretion and trust that we can’t trust the people we work with.”
Another wrote that they have been investigated four times for comments, alleging they had been “stabbed [...] in the back.”
One message said: “If someone takes offence, that’s their problem.”
One predicted accusations of racism, “knowing them divs in Brussels lol”, to which another replied: “Rather be a racist and be able to go wherever I like without restriction”.
The whistleblower said: “These DCOs couldn’t care less if they’re seen as racist or not – it’s just about trying to suss out who the snitch is.
“Not all escorts have this callous, racist attitude but there is a culture of fear among staff around reporting ones who do. These people, bigoted enough to make these comments, are trained in using force. If they think you’re a snitch your life is not going to be easy.”
Migrants’ rights campaigners were horrified by our findings.
Karen Doyle, of Movement for Justice, told us: “It mirrors stories we have heard from detainees about racist attitudes, disrespect and dangerous physical restraint by escorts. culture
“This culture among the escorts comes from the very top. The Home Secretary has modelled bullying behaviour and frequently dehumanises asylum seekers and migrants, labelling all as criminals.”
Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine, vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Detention, called for an independent probe, saying: “This is totally unacceptable. It has to stop.”
Campaign group Medical Justice, which sends volunteer doctors to assess people held in immigration detention, said excessive force is often accompanied by racist abuse.
Director Emma Ginn said: "Allegations regarding Mitie staff are depressingly familiar.
"Escorts often described as racist and callous are permitted to use pain inducing, potentially life-threatening force.”
Mitie made £60million in the six months to September 2021 and CEO Phil Bentley earns £900,000 a year. It has many links to the Conservatives, though there is no suggestion it benefited directly or acted improperly.
Baroness Couttie is a non-executive director, fellow Tory Peer Baroness McGregor Smith was CEO for almost a decade and current Mitie executive Simon Venn is a former government adviser.
Tonight Mitie said it has no place for racism, bullying or discrimination and colleagues are encouraged to raise any concerns.
A spokesman said: “As soon as we were made aware we commenced an investigation, which is ongoing. We have suspended those about whom complaints have been made, pending the investigation outcome.”
A government spokesman said: “The Home Office is investigating. Mitie will update the Immigration Minister next week on steps to ensure highest standards are always met and that individuals are treated with dignity and respect.”
Escorts don't even treat us like humans
A detainee who claims he was treated inhumanely by Mitie escorting staff was horrified at the WhatsApp racism.
Rudy – not his real name – was detained at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow, London, and was twice sent to be deported.
The 43-year-old dad said: “There’s a bad attitude activated amongst escorts when they’re doing removals. There’s a culture and language used – they are not treating us like humans.”
Rudy said six custody officers “dressed in riot gear” removed him from his cell in January 2019 without explaining why or giving him a chance to properly dress.
He says he was put on a plane but removed before it took off and returned to Harmondsworth. He added: “Senior staff members were grinning their faces off like they were mocking me, poised like they were ready to jump on me.”
Rudy had lived in the UK since 1998 but was due to be deported to his country of origin due to criminal convictions. He added: “It was like fun and games for them, never mind the fact I was scared and facing a life-changing situation, living in this country for so long with family here.”
The following February, Rudy claims he was in a police van for 14 hours as it travelled to an airport – though a court injunction, over a legal wrangle, prevented Rudy boarding. Detainees were driven to and from Doncaster – without toilet breaks, Rudy claims.
Mitie said Rudy had previously exhibited violent behaviour. They disputed the loo claim.
A spokesman said: “Wellbeing is our top priority. We have robust measures in place to ensure services are delivered to the highest standards and guarantee the safety and dignity of everyone on site.”
