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FIVE men arrested over allegations of child abuse at Medway correctional facility in Kent were bailed yesterday.
Kent Police arrested five former members of staff at Medway Secure Training Centre after a BBC Panorama undercover investigation showed workers verbally and physically bullying teenagers.
A 28-year-old man from Medway was arrested on suspicion of assault, while four others aged between 25 and 35 were held on suspicion of child neglect.
A Kent Police spokesman confirmed that all men arrested on Wednesday “have been bailed until April pending further investigation.”
Panorama footage showed Medway “team leaders” in G4S uniforms seemingly boasting about stabbing and restraining to the point of suffocation some of the 12 to 17-year-old inmates.
The programme also included claims that staff tried to hide this behaviour by ensuring their actions took place away from CCTV cameras.
Private security firm G4S has run the young offenders facility since September last year after winning a £50 million contract from the government.
This is despite the firm losing its contract running a similar facility in Northamptonshire, where education watchdog Ofsted graded local staff’s behaviour “extremely inappropriate.”
After the Panorama revelations, four of Medway staff were fired and a fifth suspended.
G4S children’s security services managing director Paul Cook said “any allegations of wrongdoing will be thoroughly investigated.”
