SCANDAL-HIT outsourcing firm Serco will take over from G4S to run two Gatwick immigration removal centres (IRCs), the government announced today.

A number of male members of Serco staff at Yarl’s Wood IRC —where the vast majority of those held are women detained indefinitely — have faced allegations of sexual abuse and mistreatment of asylum seekers.

Serco will now also run Brook House and Tinsley House IRCs from May 21 this year until 2028, after G4S decided not to renew the contracts.