A whistleblower at a troubled asylum processing centre in Kent has told GB News the Government is not acknowledging the true extent of the crisis there.
The source, one of the 900 personnel working at the Manston military base, said violence, disease and attempts at self-harm are a daily occurrence at the facility.
He also said some of those employed to guard the base were later revealed to "have no legal right to work in the UK."
The Home Office said it was unaware of anyone working at the facility who did not have the right to be there.
A source has spoken out on brewing issues at the facility.
Image: GB News
The processing centre is only supposed to hold asylum seekers for no more than 24 hours, before they are then farmed out to hotels and other longer term, more suitable accommodation.
The whistleblower said that staff were only managing to process and transfer out around 100 people on an average day.
The numbers arriving by small boat he said, far out strip the base’s processing capabilities.
“Senior management don’t have plans to move them out” he said.
“Their solution is to bail them on to the site.
The risk to residents and staff is growing daily, according to the source.
Image: GB News
“They have breached detention laws and human rights. When someone is detained, they should be reviewed every 24 hours. This has not been done at all."
He told us, some people have been there over a month, adding to the mounting tensions and deteriorating conditions at the base.
"Diphtheria has been confirmed, as has strep throat, sandflies and fleas throughout the tents."
He said medical issues were being missed or ignored because of the scale of the problems they are presenting with.
"Local hospitals are struggling to deal with the constant flow of migrants with various illnesses that are transported from Manston."
The risk to residents and staff is growing by the day he said.
“Migrants pelted staff with water bottles injuring one member of staff.
“Migrants have self-harmed and one attempted to hang himself.”
He said most staff were not trained to deal or cope with this.
“Incidents are being brushed under the carpet and not taken seriously. Weapons that have been found include a knuckle duster, knives, makeshift weapons that could slash or stab people.”
The whistleblower said staff at Manston have also now been told to classify those at the base as “arriving passengers and not illegal entrants.”
Robert Jenrick is planning to visit Manston soon.
Image: GB News
On Thursday, the Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said he planned to visit Manston soon, perhaps next week.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said asylum applications needed to be processed much more quickly and he accused the Government of a lack of leadership on the issue.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“The number of people arriving in the UK via small boats has reached record levels and continues to put our asylum system under incredible pressure.
“Manston remains resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible.
“We urge anyone who is thinking about leaving a safe country and risk their lives at the hands of vile people smugglers to seriously reconsider. Despite what they have been told, they will not be allowed to start a new life here.”
The whistleblower said “critical incidents” had been declared at the base because of the ongoing outbreaks of violence and disorder.
He said there are regular "escape attempts, sit down protests, threats of a dirty protest, fighting amongst migrants and assaults on staff."