Boss Of G4S 'Abuse' Youth Centre Steps Aside

The boss of a centre for young inmates run by G4S is stepping down after top level criticism of its management.

Medway Secure Training Centre in Rochester, Kent, is at the centre of allegations of abuse and mistreatment.

G4S said its director, Ralph Marchant, is standing aside immediately but will remain employed by the public services contractor.

Seven members of staff at the centre were suspended two weeks ago and at least three men were later held after secret filming led to suspicions of child neglect.

It is understood there are no allegations relating to Mr Marchant, but the firm said he is being replaced on an interim basis by Ben Saunders.

Mr Saunders has been director of the immigration removal centre at Gatwick.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove met officials soon after the scandal broke and was later forced to defend G4S after the arrests were made.

At the time he said the allegations were "very serious" but said he did not want to "rush to judgement".

But today, after a recommendation from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick, Mr Gove appointed an independent board of experts to oversee the centre.

Mr Hardwick said that managers had failed to protect inmates from harm at the facility.

The chief inspector recommended that body-worn cameras should also be used across all institutions holding children, and staff should be expected to record all incidents involving the use of force.

The allegations come despite an OFSTED report in September 2014 that praised Medway as "good with outstanding features".

Mr Hardwick said other secure training centres should undergo new inspections to see if the concerns at Medway were more widespread.

It led shadow prisons and probation minister Jo Stevens to call for all G4S-run prisons, secure training centres and detention centres to be put into special measures.

Peter Neden, regional president of G4S UK and Ireland, said: "As part of a programme of measures to respond to recent events at the Medway Secure Training Centre, we are committed to supporting an independent review commissioned today by the Ministry of Justice.

"We welcome today's announcement by the Secretary of State that he has appointed a team of independent experts to conduct the review.

"Ben (Saunders) is a qualified social worker with extensive experience of working with vulnerable people and will give the ministry's independent improvement board our full support."