Home Office urged to settle asylum claims over unlawful detention

Ministers may face hefty bill in more than 100 cases related to Manston processing centre

Asylum seekers are urging the Home Office to settle more than 100 claims for detaining them unlawfully at Manston, the controversial processing centre in Kent for people crossing the Channel on small boats.

If the mass claim is settled ministers will have to foot a hefty bill for the failures of the previous government, which could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. One mass claim involves 96 people, both adults and children. Other similar claims have also been lodged with the Home Office.