THE former boss of Brook House detention centre has accused the whistleblower who uncovered abuse at the site of secretly filming for the BBC for “financial gain and career progression,” an inquiry has heard.
Ben Saunders headed the then G4S-run detention centre near Gatwick from 2012 to 2017, when he resigned.
He was among 15 staff who were sacked or quit following the scandal sparked by a 2017 BBC Panorama investigation, which triggered the current public inquiry.
The programme featured footage taken by former custody officer Callum Tulley, now a BBC journalist, who decided to turn whistleblower after witnessing staff mistreating detainees on several occasions at the site.
In his witness statement to the inquiry, Mr Saunders accused Mr Tulley of approaching the BBC for “career progression and financial gain,” adding that he was “very disappointed” that Mr Tulley had not reported the alleged abuse at the time.
Asked by the inquiry counsel Brian Altman QC on Tuesday whether this was a “cop-out,” Mr Saunders replied: “No, I'm not trying to move away from my responsibility around it.
“I’m stating a fact: we had very clear expectations, we articulated them to every member of staff.
“They are certificated custody officers. They had a duty to safeguard people in their care and that included reporting.”
Mr Tully previously told the inquiry that making complaints to management at Brook House was fruitless.
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