Overcrowding and racism at Manston asylum centre linked to government decisions, inquiry hears

Kent facility became dangerously overburdened after ministers halted transfers to hotels

A catalogue of failures including racism, use of force and chronic overcrowding at a Home Office processing site for people who arrive on small boat were linked to decisions made at the highest level of government, an independent inquiry has heard.

The government commissioned the Manston independent inquiry to look at problems under the Conservative government between 1 June and 22 November 2022 at the facility in Kent.