Considered one of Britain’s most notorious migrant centres is to be expanded in order that it might probably home greater than 1,000 further folks, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The Manston migrant centre in Kent, the place Channel boat arrivals are introduced and ‘processed’ earlier than being despatched to accommodations throughout the nation, is to be enlarged in order that it might probably home asylum seekers for longer.
Sources have instructed the MoS that the Home Office is planning to show present flats on the former air base into lodging for migrants.
The transfer comes because the Authorities desperately tries to seek out different lodging for the greater than 51,000 boat migrants at the moment working up a day by day lodge invoice of £6 million picked up by the taxpayer. The Residence Workplace final 12 months spent £3.6 billion on asylum assist prices.
Yesterday, as police autos patrolled outdoors Manston, the MoS noticed by way of its perimeter fences builders engaged on the positioning.
The Manston migrant centre in Kent (pictured), the place Channel boat arrivals are introduced and ‘processed’ earlier than being despatched to accommodations throughout the nation, is to be enlarged in order that it might probably home asylum seekers for longer
It’s understood that employees on the web site had been instructed that the fireplace service coaching centre constructed on the positioning when the air base closed will likely be demolished and pre-fab buildings erected to be used as flats for migrants.
One supply, who didn’t wish to be named, mentioned that development has been delayed as builders eliminated asbestos present in present buildings.
At current the centre accommodates migrants in marquees for as much as 48 hours earlier than they’re despatched to accommodations.
However it’s believed that when the brand new lodging is prepared, migrants could also be saved at Manston for longer earlier than being moved to different centres, similar to offshore barges and different former air bases. Ministers hope that migrants might be accommodated there for months.
Manston was on the centre of a nationwide scandal final November when violence between employees and detainees broke out and ailments similar to diphtheria unfold because the 1,600-capacity web site overflowed with 4,000 migrants, a few of whom had been housed there for months.
Tons of of those asylum seekers at the moment are suing the Residence Workplace for illegal detention and inhumane therapy.
At current the centre accommodates migrants in marquees for as much as 48 hours earlier than they’re despatched to accommodations
Ministers worry an enormous inflow of migrants in Channel boat crossings within the coming weeks.
Prior to now seven days, 1,294 migrants arrived in 28 boats, in response to Residence Workplace knowledge.
The full for this month as much as Friday was 3,179, in comparison with 3,139 for June 2022. Specialists are predicting an enormous surge throughout July and August, and there are fears that Manston might be overwhelmed.
Lucy Moreton, of the Immigration Companies Union (ISU) whose members work at Manston, mentioned: ‘The ISU is instructed by Border Drive that there are ample plans in place to make sure that this summer time’s predicted arrival price may be processed and moved to onward lodging safely.
‘However they’ve declined to share what these plans could be. Employees worry a return to the chaotic and harmful scenes from final 12 months.’
Final evening, the Residence Workplace mentioned that the brand new services will include a canteen space, leisure rooms, multi-faith prayer room and telephones.
A spokesman mentioned: ‘Lodging provided to asylum seekers, on a no alternative foundation, meets our authorized and contractual necessities.’
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