Manston: Migrant centre issues improving but crisis not over, say MPs

Overcrowding at a migrant centre in Kent has eased in recent days, but the "crisis is not over", the head of the Home Affairs Committee of MPs has said.

Dame Diana Johnson says the Manston immigration processing site is back to a safe occupancy level of 1,600 people.

But Labour's Dame Diana said questions remain over "the legality of the home secretary's decision to detain people at the site for longer than 24 hours".

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. But some people have been held for longer periods of time because of an apparent lack of alternative accommodation - and concerns have been raised over conditions.

On Tuesday the Home Affairs Committee - made up of MPs from several parties - visited Manston and praised staff for making "valiant efforts" at trying to improve conditions for detainees.

But, Dame Diana warned "the crisis is not over".

"We encountered families who had been sleeping on mats on the floor for weeks," she added.

"The Home Office has been running to keep up with this escalating crisis, rather than warding it off at the outset through planning and preparation."

He described being forced to sleep on the floor, and being prevented from going to the toilet, taking a shower or going outside for exercise.

A Home Office spokesperson earlier insisted Manston remains resourced and equipped to process people securely while alternative accommodation is found.

They added: "We take the safety and welfare of those in our care extremely seriously and all basic needs are provided for including hot food, fresh clothing, sanitary packs, and medical care where needed."

Meanwhile, lawyers for two councils have urged the High Court to block the Home Office's contractors from using large hotels to house asylum seekers.