The Manston holding facility has closed thanks to legal action by Duncan Lewis Solicitors (23 November 2022)

Everyone held at the controversial holding facility in Manston has been moved to new accommodation following the threat of legal action managed by Duncan Lewis. A pre-action letter issued on behalf of the Detention Action charity, the Public and Commercial Services Union, and an individual female asylum seeker, against the Home Secretary for unlawful detention and mistreatment of the people held at the site has resulted in the closure of the centre in Kent. The Home office placed around 4,000 arrivals, many of whom had arrived in the UK on small boats, at the site for initial checks. This was almost three times the maximum 1,600 capacity of the tented site near Ramsgate. The legal challenge held that the duration of detention, lack of access to legal advice and conditions at the site were unlawful. Following correspondence between the Home Secretary and the claimants, in which they stated a clear intention to take legal action unless they received assurances that no one would be held at the site for more than 24 hours, the Home Secretary emptied the facility. Public Law Caseworker Elizabeth Cole said: “We are delighted to see that common sense has prevailed following the threat of legal action and that the site is now empty. This result is a clear acknowledgement that this was an atrocious way to treat human beings. While the Government has not confirmed whether the site will be permanently closed, it is hoped that it will never be used in this way again. Sadly, the damage done for those who were held there may well be irreparable.” Our public law team is top ranked by both the prestigious legal guides, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, and has a broad practice representing both privately and publicly funded (legal aid) clients in matters involving immigration; asylum and human rights and deportation matters, with a niche practice in immigration and civil liberties claimant judicial review matters. They have significant practice in challenging delays in Home Office decision-making (asylum claims, accommodation / support), unlawful immigration detention cases with high net claims for damages and challenging immigration removal decisions, particularly third country removal cases. If you think a public body (like a government department, the local authority or a tribunal) has treated you unfairly, our public law tea may be able to help you challenge this treatment. Public bodies frequently make unlawful decisions or policies; these can be damaging and life changing. Our team can help you challenge these decisions, to hold public bodies to account and to ensure that you get the justice you deserve. Duncan Lewis’ public law team was headed by director Toufique Hossain, and solicitor Sheroy Zaq, supported by caseworkers Elizabeth Cole, Hannah Jandu, and Katie Nelson. For advice visit the website at Public law experts, or telephone 033 3772 0409 to speak to a member of the team. The barristers instructed by the team were Laura Dubinsky KC leading Agata Patyna and Camila Zapata Besso, of Doughty Street Chambers, and Jesse Nicholls and Anirudh Mathur, of Matrix Chambers.