Senior Staff Suspended at Controversial Asylum Centre
Two of the most senior staff members responsible for running the Manston immigration holding facility in Kent have been suspended and are under investigation for misconduct, the Guardian can reveal.
Witnesses reported seeing the senior figures escorted off the site located in Thanet, Kent. Both the Home Office and its contractor, Mitie, which employ the suspended staff, have confirmed the suspensions and the ongoing investigation but have declined to disclose the specific reasons behind them.
A Home Office source acknowledged awareness of the suspensions of Mitie staff members, emphasising that the matter is for the contractor to handle and does not impact day-to-day operations at the centre.
A History of Systemic Failings
The suspensions occur against a backdrop of severe and well-documented problems at the Manston facility. The site, intended for short-term processing of small boat arrivals, has been plagued by scandals in recent years.
An independent inquiry is currently examining the crisis that unfolded in the latter part of 2022, when the centre became dangerously overcrowded. The site, designed for a maximum of 1,600 people, was holding 4,000 asylum seekers at its peak.
Documents disclosed in a court case revealed that Home Office officials admitted they had "completely lost our grip" on the situation. Between June and November 2022, of the 29,000 people processed at Manston, a staggering 18,000 were detained for longer than the legal 24-hour limit.
The conditions during this period were described as insanitary, with reports of toilets overflowing with faeces. Tragically, Hussein Haseeb Ahmed, a Kurdish asylum seeker, died in hospital on 19 November 2022 after contracting diphtheria at Manston. The centre also experienced outbreaks of scabies and diphtheria, and there were claims of assaults by guards.
Ongoing Repercussions and Legal Challenges
The fallout from the 2022 crisis continues. About 200 asylum seekers who were unlawfully detained at Manston are now bringing legal challenges against the government.
The independent inquiry may call upon two former prime ministers, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, as well as three former home secretaries, Priti Patel, Grant Shapps and Suella Braverman, to give evidence.
Manston has been hit by further scandals, including a sixfold annual rise in staff sacked for failing drugs tests and an investigation into a racist message being reportedly broadcast at the centre.
A Mitie spokesperson stated: "We hold our people to the highest standards and take allegations about staff misconduct very seriously. Where allegations are made, we will immediately investigate and take appropriate action where necessary." The company sources confirmed a senior team is in place to ensure operations continue as usual.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges at the facility, where many new arrivals are survivors of rape and torture, and often arrive traumatised from their Channel crossings, presenting with hypothermia and fuel burns from boat engines.
