"Secret recordings allege excessive force by guards in Australia's detention centres", 24 March 2019

Leaked video, audio and images have revealed allegations of excessive force and harassment inside Australia’s network of onshore detention centres....

...The investigation found:

• guards had allegedly discouraged detainees from pursuing complaints

• allegations of abuse and mistreatment of detainees

• allegations by a former Serco employee that complaints were “covered up”

• allegations that detainees had been arbitrarily transferred away from their home state

• claims of “prison-like” conditions in detention centres

• allegations of an increasingly militarised approach from authorities and rising tension within the centres

...The department and Serco said the recordings were unverified and declined to comment on them. Four people have separately told Guardian Australia they recognise the voices as Serco employees....

...Questions to Serco were directed to Australian Border Force, which rarely comments on specific incidents. “All staff, including service providers, are expected to adhere to the laws, policies, rules and practices that govern how people are treated in immigration detention facilities,” ABF said....