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| Manston migrant centre: What are the problems? | Manston migrant centre: What are the problems? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Manston Airport detention centre in Kent | Manston Airport detention centre in Kent |
| Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been criticised over the conditions at a migrant processing centre at Manston in Kent. | Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been criticised over the conditions at a migrant processing centre at Manston in Kent. |
| There are thousands of migrants at the camp, which the local Conservative MP Roger Gale says is now "overwhelmed". | There are thousands of migrants at the camp, which the local Conservative MP Roger Gale says is now "overwhelmed". |
| What is Manston migrant centre? | What is Manston migrant centre? |
| Manston, a former military base in Kent, opened as a processing centre in February 2022, for the growing number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats. | Manston, a former military base in Kent, opened as a processing centre in February 2022, for the growing number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats. |
| Migrants are meant to be held there for short periods of time while undergoing security and identity checks. | Migrants are meant to be held there for short periods of time while undergoing security and identity checks. |
| They are then supposed to be moved into the Home Office's asylum accommodation system, which often means a hotel - due to a shortage of available accommodation. | They are then supposed to be moved into the Home Office's asylum accommodation system, which often means a hotel - due to a shortage of available accommodation. |
| Some go to immigration detention centres if the government believes it has a case to remove them. | Some go to immigration detention centres if the government believes it has a case to remove them. |
| The Home Office said last week: "The aim was to run a site that had between 1,000 and 1,600 people passing through it every day, and that all of those checks would be completed in under 24 hours. For a large part of this year, that is exactly how it was operating". | The Home Office said last week: "The aim was to run a site that had between 1,000 and 1,600 people passing through it every day, and that all of those checks would be completed in under 24 hours. For a large part of this year, that is exactly how it was operating". |
| What are the problems at Manston? | What are the problems at Manston? |
| There are around 4,000 migrants at Manston, according to Mr Gale. The Home Office would not comment on the numbers. | |
| Some migrants are being held for longer periods of time because of an apparent lack of alternative accommodation. | Some migrants are being held for longer periods of time because of an apparent lack of alternative accommodation. |
| An official inspection of the centre in July found that "the length of detention was far too long, often more than 24 hours and sometimes far in excess of this". | An official inspection of the centre in July found that "the length of detention was far too long, often more than 24 hours and sometimes far in excess of this". |
| Picture of some of the Manston facilities from inspection in July 2022 by HM Prisons Inspectorate | Picture of some of the Manston facilities from inspection in July 2022 by HM Prisons Inspectorate |
| Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal visited the camp on 24 October and said there were 2,800 migrants there on that day. | Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal visited the camp on 24 October and 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." | He told MPs: "I spoke to an Afghan family who had been in a marquee for 32 days." |
| He reported that migrants were being guarded by untrained custody officers and said: "What is really concerning and alarming is that the numbers, as described, are clearly outstripping the capacity of the site." | He reported that migrants were being guarded by untrained custody officers and said: "What is really concerning and alarming is that the numbers, as described, are clearly outstripping the capacity of the site." |
| There have also been a number of cases of diptheria at the centre. | There have also been a number of cases of diptheria at the centre. |
| Lucy Moreton, the head of the Immigration Services Union - which represents some staff at Manston - told the BBC's Today programme: "Staff face on a daily basis sit-down protests, being shouted at ...improvised weapons are always being found ...no prison in the UK has over 4,000 people uncontained, face-to-face with those who are responsible for controlling them." | Lucy Moreton, the head of the Immigration Services Union - which represents some staff at Manston - told the BBC's Today programme: "Staff face on a daily basis sit-down protests, being shouted at ...improvised weapons are always being found ...no prison in the UK has over 4,000 people uncontained, face-to-face with those who are responsible for controlling them." |
| A Home Office spokesperson said: "Manston remains resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible." | A Home Office spokesperson said: "Manston remains resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible." |
| What was the role of Suella Braverman? | What was the role of Suella Braverman? |
| The Times reported on Saturday that Ms Braverman was told at least three weeks ago that migrants, including families, were being held at Manston for four weeks, putting the government in breach of the law. | The Times reported on Saturday that Ms Braverman was told at least three weeks ago that migrants, including families, were being held at Manston for four weeks, putting the government in breach of the law. |
| The BBC has been told that she was warned that the government was breaching statutory duties by failing to sign off on ways to immediately move people to hotels or alternative accommodation. | The BBC has been told that she was warned that the government was breaching statutory duties by failing to sign off on ways to immediately move people to hotels or alternative accommodation. |
| Braverman was warned about migrant overcrowding | Braverman was warned about migrant overcrowding |
| The BBC has spoken to sources familiar with the situation. One source said there was "crystal clear" advice that the government was not acting within the law. | The BBC has spoken to sources familiar with the situation. One source said there was "crystal clear" advice that the government was not acting within the law. |
| Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, told the Today programme that "the law is very clear that we shouldn't hold people for more than 24 hours". | Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, told the Today programme that "the law is very clear that we shouldn't hold people for more than 24 hours". |
| Ms Braverman told MPs: "On no occasion did i block hotels or veto advice to procure extra and emergency accommodation." | Ms Braverman told MPs: "On no occasion did i block hotels or veto advice to procure extra and emergency accommodation." |
| She said that since 6 September 2022, deals with 30 hotels had been agreed and 9,000 migrants had left Manston, with many heading to hotel accommodation. | She said that since 6 September 2022, deals with 30 hotels had been agreed and 9,000 migrants had left Manston, with many heading to hotel accommodation. |
| On 1 November, the home secretary told a Cabinet meeting that "large numbers" of migrants were being taken from the camp to other accommodation. | |
| Why is there a backlog? | Why is there a backlog? |
| At the end of June 2022 there were almost 100,000 asylum claims waiting for an initial decision from the Home Office. | At the end of June 2022 there were almost 100,000 asylum claims waiting for an initial decision from the Home Office. |
| One reason for the increased backlog - which is two and a half times higher than at the end of 2019 - is the rise in number of asylum applications. | One reason for the increased backlog - which is two and a half times higher than at the end of 2019 - is the rise in number of asylum applications. |
| In 2021, there were 48,450 applications, compared to 63,089 so far in 2022. Large increases in small boat crossings have driven this trend. | In 2021, there were 48,450 applications, compared to 63,089 so far in 2022. Large increases in small boat crossings have driven this trend. |
| A Home Affairs Committee report published over the summer said that "antiquated IT systems, high staff turnover, and too few staff are among the reasons for this slow pace". | A Home Affairs Committee report published over the summer said that "antiquated IT systems, high staff turnover, and too few staff are among the reasons for this slow pace". |
| The asylum backlog has left thousands of asylum seekers waiting in short term accommodation - such as hotels - which is costing the government around £5.6m per day. | The asylum backlog has left thousands of asylum seekers waiting in short term accommodation - such as hotels - which is costing the government around £5.6m per day. |
| The pressure in the asylum system worsened during the pandemic as people were prevented from being moved on to long-term accommodation because of the lockdown. | The pressure in the asylum system worsened during the pandemic as people were prevented from being moved on to long-term accommodation because of the lockdown. |
| The Home Affairs Committee reported that in September 2021,13,000 asylum seekers were living in hotels. | The Home Affairs Committee reported that in September 2021,13,000 asylum seekers were living in hotels. |
| What about other migrant centres? | What about other migrant centres? |
| The government uses another site in Kent - Western Jet Foil - as a processing centre where initial checks take place. | The government uses another site in Kent - Western Jet Foil - as a processing centre where initial checks take place. |
| Earlier this year, a processing centre was due to open in the Yorkshire village of Linton-on-Ouse. The proposal was scrapped after opposition from the local Conservative council | Earlier this year, a processing centre was due to open in the Yorkshire village of Linton-on-Ouse. The proposal was scrapped after opposition from the local Conservative council |
| There are currently seven immigration removal centres located across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland which hold people who are about to be removed from the UK. | There are currently seven immigration removal centres located across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland which hold people who are about to be removed from the UK. |
| However, some migrants have been sent here upon arrival when there is no space at processing centres. | However, some migrants have been sent here upon arrival when there is no space at processing centres. |
| Other types of detention centres - such as short-term holding centres - are based in Manchester and Northern Ireland. | Other types of detention centres - such as short-term holding centres - are based in Manchester and Northern Ireland. |