Home Office to launch inquiry into Manston processing centre

A migrant, who had diphtheria, died after being held at Manston in November 2022

The Home Office is to launch a statutory inquiry into the alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers at Manston migrant processing centre.

It follows demands for an independent investigation into conditions at the Kent site.

The High Court granted former detainees permission to seek a judicial review of the department's failure to launch an inquiry in December.

A Home Office spokesperson said "significant improvements" had been made to the site since 2022.

In late 2022, thousands of migrants were placed in tents at Manston, leading to overcrowding and disease, including diphtheria.

But the government has not said who will head the inquiry, or when it will take place.

Manston, a former military base in Kent, opened as a processing centre in February 2022, in response to a growing number of migrants arriving in the UK in small boats.

Migrants were meant to be held there for short periods while undergoing security and identity checks.

But on 31 October, there were around 4,000 migrants at Manston, with some migrants held there for longer periods due to an apparent lack of alternative accommodation.

Statutory inquiries can compel witnesses to provide evidence, meaning that former home secretaries Priti Patel and Suella Braverman could be asked to give evidence over decisions preceding the overcrowding.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman could be compelled to give evidence

Recently-fired independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal, who visited the camp in October 2022, said there were 2,800 migrants there on that day.

He told MPs: "I spoke to an Afghan family who had been in a marquee for 32 days."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Since 2022 we have overhauled Manston and made significant improvements to key areas of the site including the processing, sleeping, catering and healthcare.

“Despite record pressure on the asylum system, we have reduced small boat crossings by more than a third and have a clear strategy to process and accommodate migrants arriving in the UK illegally."