Migrants wield makeshift weapons out of tent poles at camp of chaos in Manston, Kent, insider says

Conditions at the Manston processing centre deteriorated further last night as insiders warned that migrants were fighting each other with improvised weapons.

The site in Kent has tripled in size since May, when seven tents were being used to house asylum seekers – compared with 21 yesterday as numbers swelled.

Some 4,000 people are now packed into the former RAF station – which has a capacity of just 1,600. Severe overcrowding at the centre has led to outbreaks of violence and infections such as diphtheria.

An aerial view of the Manston processing centre in Kent. The site has trippled in size since May due to record numbers of small boat crossings 

The situation became even more dire yesterday with the arrival of another 700 migrants, who were brought from Dover after the Western Jet Foil processing centre was attacked with petrol bombs on Sunday.

Last night staff in Manston warned that migrants are making blades out of tent parts, loo roll holders and broken bits from the wired fence. It came as a damning report called for ministers to ‘get a grip’ of the crisis after a watchdog uncovered worrying conditions. Charlie Taylor, chief inspector of prisons, carried out an unannounced visit in July and found evidence of ‘exhausted’ migrants sleeping on floors and ‘impatient staff’.

The situation has since worsened due to record numbers of migrants arriving in the UK via small boats this summer.

Some 4,000 people are now packed into the former RAF station in Manston – which has a capacity of just 1,600. Severe overcrowding at the centre has led to outbreaks of violence and infections such as diphtheria

Lucy Moreton, a professional officer at the Union for Borders, Immigration and Customs, said staff in Manston have witnessed ‘incredibly tense’ scenes in the last 24 hours.

‘Tensions have been very high in Manston for the last three weeks off and on, as people are staying there longer and longer and are becoming increasingly more frustrated,’ she told the Daily Mail.

‘They get bored. Mostly the migrants fight amongst each other rather than fight us – but then our staff have to go in and separate them. Staff have already expressed serious concerns about improvised weapons that are being found.’ Miss Moreton said the violence is largely being driven by Albanian men, adding: ‘We’ve got a fairly high proportion of individuals in reach of a deportation order or with other known criminality and most of the unrest tends to focus around them.’

People who live near Manston have also expressed safety concerns amid questions of whether migrants will be rehomed to prevent overcrowding.

Margaret Brown, 71, said: ‘It is a fear. You’ve got children and everyone going through here. We’ve got our grandchildren here.

‘Gangsters and everyone else they are bringing over, they’ve not been checked.’

People who live near Manston have also expressed safety concerns amid questions of whether migrants will be rehomed to prevent overcrowding. Pictured: A view of people thought to be migrants at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility in Kent 

Natasha Roots, 27, said it would be ‘very concerning’ if migrants were rehomed in empty accommodation near her. She added: ‘Quite frankly there are enough people already living [here] that need houses.’

In his 37-page report, Mr Taylor expressed concern over the conditions at Manston, with some migrants waiting up to 70 hours to be processed. He added: ‘It was particularly disappointing to see exhausted detainees forced to sleep on floor mats between rows of seats or on wooden benches.

‘Much more accommodation was available at Manston but it was as yet unstaffed and did not have proper sleeping facilities. Detainees could not go outside for fresh air.’ The report also found that ‘a considerable minority’ of migrants have been moved to temporary hotel accommodation without screening.

Mr Taylor added: ‘Recent intelligence from a number of credible sources… suggest that the current situation at Manston has significantly deteriorated since our July inspection.

‘We are hearing that detainees are now being held in greater numbers and for much longer periods of time in cramped and uncomfortable conditions, often supervised by staff who have not been suitably trained.’

A Home Office spokesman said the asylum system is ‘under incredible pressure’ but added: ‘Manston remains resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible.’