WITNESSES to mistreatment of detainees at Brook House were urged to come forward today at the launch of an independent inquiry into the scandal.

The public inquiry will look into alleged abuse at the migrant detention site near Gatwick, which was exposed in a 2017 undercover report by BBC Panorama.

The documentary appeared to show guards assaulting and racially abusing detainees as well as mocking people with mental illnesses while the site was run by notorious security privateers G4S.

One guard was filmed saying: “If I killed a man, I wouldn’t be bothered.”

In an opening statement today, Brook House public inquiry chairwoman Kate Eves urged those who may have witnessed events during the time the documentary was filmed — between April and August 2017 — to contact the inquiry. 

“The treatment revealed in the Panorama documentary was shocking and has no place in a decent and humane immigration detention system,” Ms Eves said. 

“It is this inquiry’s role to examine what took place at Brook House and how treatment of the nature experienced was able to happen.” 

Ms Eves said that witness interviews — which must be conducted face-to-face — would be delayed until the Covid-19 lockdown measures are lifted. 

The inquiry was ordered last year by a High Court judge — the first time that a public inquiry into conditions in immigration detention has been ordered. 

Alleged abuse was uncovered at the site by staff member Callum Tulley, who became a whistleblower after witnessing a “culture of violence” at the site. 

The revelations sparked outrage, resulting in G4S dismissing at least six staff, but the firm continued to manage the site for a further two years. Between 2012 and 2018 the privateer made a gross profit of £14.3 million from running Brook House. 

This year G4S left the immigration sector completely, deciding not to renew its contract managing Brook House or neighbouring centre Tinsley House. Another privateer, Serco, took over the sites in February. 

Hundreds of detainees are still being kept at Brook House and other detention centres despite confirmed and suspected cases of coronavirus.  

Campaigners have accused the Home Office of prioritising immigration enforcement over the welfare of detainees during the crisis.