Serco, the private outsourcing giant, is to
be investigated by MPs after it was forced to disclose a secret internal report
revealing evidence that it failed to properly investigate a claim of repeated
sexual assaults by one of its staff against a female resident at Yarl's Wood
immigration detention centre.
The document, which was marked
confidential, was made public last week following a four-month legal battle
between Serco and Guardian News and Media. Lawyers said the report demonstrates
a culture of disbelief towards women inside the detention centre, which is run
by Serco, and hailed the high court's decision forcing Serco to disclose the
document as a victory for greater transparency.
