Reports say that over 400 asylum seekers were detained illegally at immigration removal centres. According to a chain of Home Office emails obtained by the BBC through a freedom of information request, the detention of between 450 and 500 migrants held as "overflow" from the Manston processing centre in November was described at the time as "no longer legal".
As many as 4,000 people were being detained at Manston, which is designed to hold just 1,600, during the peak of Channel crossings in Octobers. New arrivals were expected to be taken to the centre, which is designed for holding people for short periods during security and identity checks, before being moved to accommodation.
Some were held for far longer periods due to a lack of alternative accommodation. The BBC has reported that the emails show that the Home Office permanent secretaries were aware of overcrowding concerns.
