Dept refers 50 cases of abuse on Nauru

The immigration department says 50 cases of abuse at the Nauru detention facility have been referred to local police - two convictions have been recorded.

Nauru detention centre. (AAP) Source: Department of Immigration

The immigration department has referred 50 cases of abuse to Nauru police since the Australian offshore detention centre opened in 2012.

The department on Tuesday confirmed charges have been laid in five of those cases, while two people have been convicted and sentenced.

Other cases of abuse are still under investigation, department deputy secretary Cindy Briscoe told a parliamentary inquiry into allegations of abuse at the Nauru detention centre.