The children’s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, is set to visit the migrant processing centre at Manston following concerns over the safeguarding of children at the facility. This move comes in response to ongoing issues and follows the government’s announcement in March of a statutory inquiry into alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers at the site.
Located at a former military base in Kent, Manston was repurposed as a processing centre in February 2022 amidst a surge in migrants arriving in the UK via small boats. Reports from late 2022 highlighted severe conditions, including overcrowding and outbreaks of diseases such as diphtheria, as thousands of migrants were accommodated in tents due to a lack of alternative housing options.
While the Home Office has claimed “significant improvements” at the site since then, concerns persist, prompting calls for further investigation and accountability. The statutory inquiry, prompted by demands from various quarters including former detainees, aims to address these issues comprehensively.
The children’s commissioner’s office, an independent body mandated to uphold the rights of all children in England, including unaccompanied asylum seekers, will assess conditions at Manston and ensure that adequate safeguards are in place for vulnerable minors. However, specific details regarding the nature of concerns at the facility have not been disclosed.
The visit shows ongoing efforts to monitor and improve conditions for migrants in UK government facilities, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the treatment of asylum seekers.