The director of two immigration removal centres at Gatwick has resigned following a Panorama investigation in which secretly recorded footage appeared to show staff abusing detainees at one of them.

Ben Saunders stepped down from his role following staff suspensions and an independent review of practices at Brook House, in Perimeter Road South.

The BBC programme, aired on September 4, made allegations of "widespread self-harm and attempted suicides" as well as abuse of detainees.

Ten members of staff were suspended following the broadcast, three of whom have been dismissed.

G4S commissioned an independent inquiry and was assisting a police investigation, the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee heard last week.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper said it was a matter of "very grave concern" that the company appeared to have failed to get a grip on staff misbehaviour following earlier allegations of mistreatment at a young offenders' unit in Kent.

Mr Saunders was director of Brook House and Tinsley House, both of which are located south of the runway at Gatwick.

Jerry Petherick, managing director for G4S custodial and detention services, said on Friday: "Ben Saunders has resigned from his role as director of Gatwick Immigration Removal Centres.

"Lee Hanford will be taking up the role of interim director with effect from Monday, September 25 pending the eventual appointment of a replacement director."

'Duracell bunny'

Undercover BBC footage allegedly showed staff mocking detainees who were receiving medical treatment after self-harming or taking drugs.

In one incident, a detainee was self-harming by trying to self-strangulate and putting a mobile phone battery in his mouth.

A custody manager allegedly remarked: "Plug him in and he'll be a Duracell bunny."

It was claimed that later during the same incident, when the detainee was being physically restrained, another member of staff was filmed choking the detainee.

'Ashamed'

Panorama's undercover reporter said the staff member "basically stuck both of his fingers into his neck, and he was pushing so, so hard I could hear the detainee trying to gasp for breath".

G4S regional president for the UK and Ireland Peter Neden told the committee he had been left feeling "ashamed" of what he had seen and apologised.

Brook House has capacity for 508 adult men.

Panorama uncovered alleged abuse and mistreatment of youngsters at Medway Secure Training Centre in Kent, which is also run by G4S, last year.

It was later judged inadequate by Ofsted inspectors, who found that young inmates were able to watch sexually explicit content on television.

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