Serco Group, a multinational corporation involved in outsourcing public services, has come under intense scrutiny for its role in enforcing the UK’s hostile environment policies. From operating detention centres where refugees face documented abuses to profiting from electronic tagging of migrants, Serco has become emblematic of the UK government’s harsh treatment of asylum seekers. While direct action and legal challenges against the company continue, a lesser-known but highly effective pressure point exists: the insurers underwriting Serco’s operations.
The Human Cost of Serco’s Electronic Tagging and Detention Centres
Serco is responsible for the electronic monitoring of migrants and refugees in the UK, a system that has been widely condemned by human rights organizations. Electronic tags, fitted to asylum seekers under restrictive bail conditions, turn them into perpetual prisoners, limiting their ability to engage with society and live in dignity. Reports have emerged of refugees experiencing severe mental distress, humiliation, and isolation as a result of being tagged. The constant surveillance serves as a dehumanizing mechanism, reinforcing the notion that migrants are criminals despite seeking safety under international law.
Beyond electronic tagging, Serco operates several immigration detention centres in the UK, including the infamous Yarl’s Wood, Brook House, and Colnbrook. These facilities have been plagued by allegations of abuse, neglect, and human rights violations. Multiple reports have documented physical assaults, sexual abuse by staff, and the prolonged detention of individuals with no clear pathway to release. The conditions inside these centres have led to hunger strikes, suicides, and mental health crises among detainees. Testimonies from former detainees describe overcrowded rooms, inadequate medical care, and systemic mistreatment by security staff.
Profiting from the Hostile Environment
Despite widespread condemnation, Serco continues to profit immensely from the UK government’s immigration policies. Under lucrative Home Office contracts, the company has received hundreds of millions of pounds to operate detention centres and electronic tagging schemes.
- In 2022, Serco’s revenue from UK government contracts reached £4.5 billion, a substantial portion of which came from its immigration-related services.
- Between 2020 and 2023, the company secured contracts worth £1.9 billion specifically for managing asylum accommodation and detention centres.
- Serco’s CEO, Rupert Soames, received £4.9 million in salary and bonuses in 2022, reflecting the profitability of policies that criminalize and dehumanize migrants.
- According to a parliamentary report, Serco was awarded £200 million for running the UK’s electronic tagging system despite serious concerns about its effectiveness and ethical implications.
Insurance as a Key Leverage Point
While public pressure on Serco is growing, targeting the insurers that underwrite the company presents a powerful secondary strategy. Without insurance, Serco’s ability to operate detention centres and manage electronic tagging contracts would be severely compromised.
Recent investigations have revealed that two major insurers, Aviva and QBE, provide crucial coverage for Serco’s operations. By insuring the company, these firms are indirectly facilitating the abuse of refugees and the enforcement of oppressive immigration policies. Just as insurers have been successfully pressured to withdraw from fossil fuel projects, they can be compelled to sever ties with companies that profit from human rights violations.
Boycott Bloody Insurance: A New Campaign Against Serco’s Backers
Boycott Bloody Insurance is calling on Aviva and QBE to immediately end their underwriting of Serco Group. These insurers claim to uphold ethical standards and corporate social responsibility, yet their backing of Serco tells a different story.
The campaign aims to expose the complicity of insurers in sustaining companies that thrive on human suffering. Just as financial institutions and investors have been held accountable for their role in climate destruction, insurers must now face scrutiny for underwriting companies linked to systemic abuse.
A Call to Action: Cut Off Insurance for Serco
The fight against Serco’s abuses cannot be won solely through legal challenges and public outcry. Cutting off the financial and logistical support that enables Serco to operate is essential. If Aviva and QBE refuse to drop Serco, they should expect mounting public pressure, direct action, and reputational damage.
Boycott Bloody Insurance urges organisations and institutions to withdraw support from the insurers backing Serco. The message is clear: any company that profits from the suffering of refugees should not receive financial backing from firms that claim to support human rights.
By targeting the insurers propping up Serco, campaigners have an opportunity to strike at the financial heart of the hostile environment, ensuring that corporations profiting from detention and surveillance face real consequences. The time to act is now.