Some areas of the accommodation were “filthy”
Asylum seekers who were at high-risk of self-harm were placed into an “uninhabitable” self-isolation block at Napier Barracks in Kent.
An inspection carried out by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found that there was “inadequate support” in place for those who had self-harmed.
The inspectors expressed “serious safeguarding concerns” for the asylum seekers, who were held in a “decrepit ‘isolation block'” which was labelled “unfit for habitation”.
Pictures from inside Napier barracks asylum “contingency” accommodation released by inspectors today. This was where young men were sleeping during a pandemic. pic.twitter.com/8R4NNWHZCM
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) March 8, 2021
In a resident survey carried out by the inspectors at Napier Barracks, all respondents said they had felt depressed at times, with over 30% of those who responded expressing they had felt suicidal.
In addition to appalling conditions of Napier Barracks, Public Health England (PHE) expressed concern to the Home Office about the risk of Covid-19 in the multi-occupancy dormitory-style accommodation. The site was nevertheless opened before the recommendations had been put into place.
Labour MP Holly Lynch has called upon the Home Secretary to explain the horrific findings from an inspection carried out by Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
Devastating revelations in this CCG inspection of Napier Barracks. Home Sec has serious questions to answer on this AND her answers to @CommonsHomeAffs @YvetteCooperMP last week. @maybulman has the detail here; https://t.co/CsCYdVXVMd pic.twitter.com/xKtwUBCHwA
— Holly Lynch MP (@HollyLynch5) March 4, 2021
The Covid-19 outbreak at the barracks in January led to almost 200 people becoming infected with the virus. During the outbreak, residents were unable to leave their dormitories for weeks, apart from to use the mobile toilets and showers.
The residents who were self-isolating were told that they might be arrested if they left camp.
The Inspection found that, in at least one case, a resident was forcibly returned to the camp by the police.
Many residents reported feeling trapped in the poor conditions. However, they feared that if they moved out of the barracks, they would jeopardise their only source of support and possibly their asylum cases.
