Home Office Faces Millions in Compensation Claims Over Manston Migrant Centre Abuse

Nearly 200 asylum seekers have launched legal claims against the Home Office for unlawful detention and mistreatment at the Manston migrant holding centre in Kent, where conditions were described as inhumane and overcrowded. The site, with a capacity of 1,600, held around 4,000 migrants between June and November 2022, leading to allegations of physical abuse, sexual assault, theft by guards, denial of medical care, and outbreaks of diseases such as diphtheria and scabies. Migrants were reportedly detained beyond the 24-hour legal limit, with compensation claims potentially amounting to millions of pounds, as standard awards are around £500 per 24 hours of unlawful detention, with higher damages possible. The Home Office has refused to settle out of court, forcing legal battles that may involve testimony from former Conservative leaders, while internal documents warn the situation could cause significant reputational damage. A public inquiry was launched in February 2025 to investigate the handling of the crisis, and there are discussions about expanding the use of military sites like Manston for housing asylum seekers under current government plans. The case highlights ongoing challenges in the UK’s immigration system and the treatment of Channel migrants arriving in the country.