Security firm abandons contracts

Wilson withdraws from offshore detention centres

AUSTRALIA – Wilson Security says it will not renew its contract to run Australia’s offshore detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.
In a statement, the Australian company said it would provide services until its contract expires in October 2017.
The decision follows the announcement by the service provider, Broadspectrum, earlier this year that it, too, would abandon the processing centres.
Wilson Security has come under intense criticism for its handling of the centres, where there have been numerous allegations of violence, abuse, and intimidation against its guards.
However, Wilson Security said it took pride in its performance.
The announcement leaves the Australian government without a service provider or security firm for its offshore detention regime.
“In line with Broadspectrum’s future intentions Wilson Security can now confirm that it will also not tender for any further offshore detention services,” the company said in a statement.
“The provision of security services at regional processing centres (RPCs) is not in line with Wilson Security’s long-term strategic priorities. Wilson Security will continue to deliver all aspects of its current contract with Broadspectrum until completion of the contract.”
The companies involved in offshore processing have faced intense pressure in recent months, with protests at their places of business, divestment and boycott movements.
Wilson has been under particularly intense pressure since the publication of the Nauru files which revealed incident reports detailing allegations of Wilson employees on the island assaulting asylum seekers and refugees, including allegations of sexually assaulting women and children, and attacking and choking children.
The Nauru files also revealed that Wilson Security officials may have misled a Senate inquiry, by failing to fully reveal the number of assaults on children inside the Nauru detention centre.
Senior Wilson officials have previously been rebuked for giving false evidence to the Senate, and are likely to be called back to explain at least 16 incidents of child abuse that they failed to reveal to senators under direct questioning.
Wilson Security has maintained that all of its evidence to the Senate was full and correct. The company had “fully cooperated with and, based on the information to hand, provided honest and accurate evidence,” to the inquiry, a spokeswoman said in a statement to the Guardian.
Wilson guards have also been accused of illegal behaviour on Manus Island. In July 2015, three Wilson guards allegedly drugged and gang-raped a local woman inside the accommodation block of the detention centre. However, the men were flown off the island and out of Papua New Guinea before police could investigate.
Despite promises the men allegedly involved would be returned to face questioning, they have never been repatriated.
The Wilson statement announcing its departure from offshore processing said: “Wilson Security has provided the security services for the RPCs as subcontractor to Broadspectrum since 2012. The company is primarily responsible for providing professional security personnel 24-hours-a-day to create an environment in which asylum seekers feel safe.
“Wilson Security has carried out its contractual obligations to the best of its ability and takes pride in its performance.”
- PNC sources