Mitie probes racism and hate speech allegations among Home Office immigration staff
The Home Office has deferred to Mitie to handle the investigation, which follows a pattern of past controversies at the firm’s immigration operations.
Home Office contractor Mitie has initiated an internal investigation into allegations of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate speech among staff operating within immigration removal centres and deportation services. The probe was triggered by a dossier of evidence submitted by whistleblowers, which cites offensive workplace remarks and engagement with abusive social media content.
The allegations, detailed in a document seen by the Guardian, include Islamophobic comments made by employees. Specific examples cited in the dossier include claims that immigrants “should be kicked out of our country” and assertions that “All Muslim men beat their wives.” One staff member was also alleged to have made derogatory remarks about the smell of curry on migrants during deportation escorts.
Further allegations point to support for far-right figures and discriminatory language. A senior staff member allegedly liked a social media post linking London’s transformation to Sadiq Khan and calling for a return to a “Christian city.” Mitie stated that this individual had liked the post by mistake and would face no further action. Other cited incidents include the use of the phrase “shalom cunts” alongside a photograph of an Orthodox Jewish man and expressions of support for content linked to Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson.
A whistleblower, identifying as a member of the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community, described feeling unsafe, distressed, and betrayed by the alleged culture within the workplace. The individual warned that the environment poses a severe risk to staff, detainees, and government contracts, stating they suffer from severe stress and anxiety when attending work.
This incident follows a history of similar controversies for Mitie. In February 2022, the company’s chief executive apologised to the Home Secretary for racist WhatsApp posts from a group called “escorts meet and greet.” An employment tribunal in 2021 expressed concern over contractors using the racist term “cotton pickers” against black colleagues, though a claim of race and disability discrimination was dismissed. Additionally, an investigation was launched last year after a racist message containing the N-word was reportedly broadcast over portable radios at the Manston asylum processing centre in Kent.
Mitie has stated that communications technology at Manston was upgraded following the radio incident to enhance traceability and monitor transmissions. A spokesperson for the company said there is no place for racism or discrimination in its business and that it takes such allegations seriously. The Home Office confirmed that the matter is for Mitie to handle.