Yarl's Wood staff disciplined

The Home Office is also investigating racism reports

One officer has been sacked and two others disciplined after an investigation into allegations of racism and abuse at the Yarl's Wood detention centre.

The action follows allegations published in a national newspaper in December about the conduct of staff at the centre for asylum seekers in Bedfordshire.

An undercover reporter, who was given a job by operators Group 4, claimed other officers were racist and had bragged of beating people being held there.

A spokesman for Group 4 said their investigation into the report was ongoing.

Separate investigation

The company has started retraining and plans to survey staff attitudes soon.

The spokesman added the sacking of one employee and warnings for two officers were subject to appeal.

A separate investigation into the newspaper's allegations has been ordered by the Home Office.

Yarl's Wood re-opened for 60 women in September after riots there in February 2002 saw one entire block with a capacity of 450 burned to the ground.

The report by the Prison Ombudsman into what happened is expected later this year.

The Home Office plan is to bring the numbers back up to around 400 by the spring of next year.