Children’s Commissioner visits Manston Asylum Centre over Safeguarding Concerns
The Children’s Commissioner for England has visited the Manston asylum processing centre this week due to concerns about the safeguarding of young people at the site.
The Children’s Commissioner’s role is to promote and protect the rights of all children including those in care and those arriving in the United Kingdom seeking asylum.
The Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, has previously said it is essential all the proper safeguards are in place for children arriving here, either with their families or alone.
She notes, children arriving alone are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, and in 2022 had specifically asked about the numbers of unaccompanied children within the Manston Centre, and what action was being taken to find them new homes and to keep them safe.
An inspection report in June 2023 noted that during six month period 17,562 detainees had been held in Manston, including 1,257 children and, of those, 26 who were unaccompanied. They were held for an average of 40 hours 43 minutes.
The average recorded time of detention for children travelling in family groups was two days 11 hours although 232 children had been held for more than 96 hours and the longest time of detention for a child was more than 19 days.
Following this week’s visit Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza said:“My advocacy team visited Manston in Kent this week in response to concerns raised regarding the welfare of children and families arriving there. I have shared those concerns with the Home Office and the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.
“Conditions in Kent can change quickly, with a change in weather and a spike in numbers arriving, and children’s welfare must be the absolute top priority – without exception and regardless of their immigration status. My staff and I will continue to make regular visits; they are an important part of my work to keep those responsible for vulnerable children to account.”
Previously, a Home Office spokesperson said: “We do all we can to ensure children are safe, secure and supported as we urgently seek placements with a local authority. All children receive a welfare interview on their arrival at accommodation, which includes questions designed to identify potential indicators of trafficking or safeguarding issues.”
Kent County Councillor Karen Constantine, who is one of the representatives for Ramsgate, added: “History keeps repeating itself at the Manston Asylum centre. Concerns are raised a Minister visits. Concerns are then quelled — until the next time. There are repeated claims of mistreatment at the detention centre, it is therefore vital, and now urgent, that those held in detention should have access to the local councillors and other civic organisations. This is an inalienable human right.
“Those detained do not know how long they will be held. Many will have complex health needs, they may have high rates of mental health issues and trauma related difficulties.
“According to the BMA they are ‘entitled to the same range and quality of healthcare services as the general public receives in the community.’ Except – that simply isn’t happening, some of what I’m hearing is extremely concerning, it’s on our doorstep and not going away.”
Manston asylum processing centre opened in February 2022.
