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Asylum seekers detained in dire conditions at a former UK military base have achieved a significant legal victory, ensuring a full inquiry into the appalling circumstances they endured.
The Manston Immigration Centre in Kent, originally designed as a temporary processing facility for a maximum of 1,600 people, was overwhelmed by overcrowding, hosting nearly 4,000 detainees at its peak. Migrants were held far beyond the intended 24-hour limit, with some spending weeks in conditions described as “like a prison.” These harsh conditions led to severe outbreaks of diphtheria and scabies, forcing many to sleep on dirty floors.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper initially attempted to downgrade an inquiry into the failings at Manston. However, just days before a legal challenge was due to proceed, the Home Office reversed its decision. The inquiry will now proceed as an independent public investigation, ensuring asylum seekers have funded legal representation to present their grievances.
Refugee charity Care4Calais has labeled the conditions at Manston as “unthinkably bad.” Reports from detainees revealed that the facility lacked proper sanitation, adequate washing facilities, and sufficient medical care.
The Manston facility, repurposed from a military base, began operating as a migrant processing centre in February 2022. It was intended to hold asylum seekers for only 24 hours while identity and security checks were completed. However, between June and November 2022, approximately 18,000 of the 29,000 individuals processed were detained beyond this limit.
A letter thrown over the centre’s wall at the height of the crisis detailed the harrowing reality inside. It described pregnant women and sick individuals being denied medical treatment and mentioned a disabled child being neglected.
David Neal, the UK’s Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, expressed shock at the facility’s state, calling it “pretty wretched.” An Independent Monitoring Board report echoed these sentiments, describing the accommodations as “basic at best, unsanitary and unacceptable at worst.”
In 2022, a man contracted diphtheria amid an outbreak at the site and later died, highlighting the grave health risks posed by the overcrowded and unhygienic conditions. Despite initial resistance, the government has now committed to a public inquiry.
While the investigation will not have the authority to compel witnesses to testify under oath, the decision to hold it in public is a step forward for transparency. Legal proceedings are also underway, with over 100 former detainees suing the Home Office for unlawful detention.
This victory marks a significant moment for asylum seekers and advocates fighting for humane treatment within the UK’s immigration system. Worldwide Immigration remains committed to highlighting these issues and ensuring that the voices of vulnerable migrants are heard.
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