The Home Office is facing a legal challenge over a multimillion-pound contract awarded to manage migrant processing sites in Kent.
The case has been brought by Mitie Group through its subsidiary, Mitie Care and Custody, after it lost a major contract to MTC Definitive. The deal covers operations at key migrant processing centres, including sites in Dover and Manston.
Mitie claims the contract process was flawed, arguing that officials failed to properly address a potential conflict of interest. The concern centers on a senior figure at MTC, who previously held a leadership role at the Manston facility and may have had access to sensitive information.
However, the Home Office has strongly rejected the allegations, describing the lawsuit as “baseless” and insisting that there was no conflict of interest in the procurement process. Government lawyers stated that while the individual had prior involvement at Manston, he did not take part in decisions related to the contract award.
The disputed contract, worth over £460 million for operational services such as catering, transport, and security, forms part of a broader six-year agreement valued at more than £520 million. A separate portion of the deal covers healthcare services at the migrant sites.
Mitie is now asking the High Court to cancel the contract award and either grant it the deal, restart the bidding process, or award financial compensation.
The legal dispute comes as the UK continues to face pressure over how it manages migrants arriving by small boats, with facilities like Manston playing a central role in processing arrivals.