Yarl's Wood racism inquiry

Yarl's Wood can house up to 400 failed asylum seekers

An investigation is to be carried out into allegations of racist bullying by staff at Yarl's Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire.

Immigration minister Beverley Hughes had decided to launch the inquiry, Home Office whip Lord Bassam of Brighton told peers.

He said she was now "considering urgently" how it should be conducted.

Lord Bassam was replying to Liberal Democrat peers' leader Baroness Williams of Crosby, who cited allegations published on Monday by The Daily Mirror about the conduct of staff at Yarl`s Wood.

"We take these allegations very seriously indeed," he said.

"It is obviously of the utmost importance that staff at immigration removal centres should carry out their duties both professionally and sensitively."

The investigation ordered by the Home Office is in addition to one by Global Solutions Ltd, formerly Group 4, which runs the centre.