Manston centre IS fit for purpose, says minister

IMMIGRATION minister Robert Jenrick yesterday insisted an over-crowded asylum centre is ‘fit for purpose’ despite a damning report by inspectors.

He admitted the Manston processing centre in Kent was currently ‘not operating properly’ after more than doubling its intended 1,600 capacity, but said hundreds of hotel rooms were being found to ease the pressure.

Migrants were seen smiling and waving yesterday as they were transported from the centre by coach in what was believed to be a series of trips. It came as the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the Home Office needed to ‘get a grip’ after his report – based on a visit in July – revealed ‘risks’ at the site.

He said: ‘We’ve got a lot of people who are incredibly frustrated, who don’t know what’s going on with their case. They are sleeping in cramped conditions – all sharing big marquees. The danger is that things can escalate and things are made worse. I think it is a combustible situation.’

The centre opened in January to ease demands on the Western Jet Foil site in Dover – which was petrol bombed at the weekend. It processes migrants arriving in Kent on small boats before sending them to temporary accommodation such as hotels.

It has a capacity for around 1,600 people, but has recently been home to more than 4,000.

Mr Jenrick admitted conditions at Manston were ‘poor’, but said they were improving.

Asked if the site was fit for purpose, he told Sky News: ‘Yes, it was fit for purpose a matter of weeks ago. The issue is there just are far too many people staying there today. If we can get the site back down again to what it was designed for, which is 1,000 to 2,000 people staying for a very short period of time... then it will once again be fit for purpose.’

Mr Jenrick later said the number of migrants at Manston had ‘fallen substantially today’.

He tweeted: ‘We have made good progress.’