Five men bailed after G4S Panorama young offenders centre probe

Kent Police said all the men had been bailed until April

Five men have been bailed following arrests after a BBC Panorama investigation into alleged abuse at a young offenders centre in Kent.

They were detained by police investigating allegations that staff mistreated youngsters at the Medway Secure Training Centre, in Rochester.

Four of the men were arrested on suspicion of child neglect. A fifth person was held on suspicion of assault, a police spokeswoman said.

They have all been bailed until April.

'Support police action'

The allegations uncovered by Panorama relate to 10 boys, aged 14 to 17, and involve unnecessary force, foul language and a cover-up.

Kent Police said three men from Medway, aged 35, 25, and 34, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

One man from East Sussex, aged 25, was also arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

A 28-year-old man from Medway was arrested on suspicion of assault.

Five members of staff at the 76-bed centre, which houses young inmates aged 12 to 18, have been sacked by G4S.

Three of the men were among four team leaders at the centre who were sacked on Tuesday, the BBC understands.

Two other staff identified in the Panorama programme were suspended pending further investigation, and one other person was removed from operational duty.

Panorama filmed undercover at the unit

A police spokeswoman said the arrests were at different times on Wednesday.

She added: "Officers investigating reports of abusive behaviour alleged to have taken place at a secure training facility in Medway arrested five men.

"The Kent Police investigation was launched following a referral from the Medway local authority designated officer."

Paul Cook, who is managing director for children's services at G4S, said there was "no place in our business for the conduct shown on the BBC's Panorama programme" and the firm fully supported the police action.

A female duty operations manager has also been placed on restricted duties, while a male healthcare worker employed by Central and North West London NHS Trust (CNWL) has been suspended.

The 76-bed unit in Rochester currently holds 56 children, mainly boys, aged from 12 to 17.