DIRE conditions at an overcrowded asylum-seeker holding centre in Kent constitute a “major incident,” ministers were warned today.

Military personnel have been drafted in to support immigration officials to run the facility, where outbreaks of infections, violence and “catastrophic overcrowding” have been reported, MPs heard on Thursday. 

Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, new Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick insisted that the Manston processing centre provides a “secure environment” for arrivals and their basic needs. 

A total of 2,666 people were being held at Manston as of Thursday morning, he said, overseen by 900 staff including trained Home Office officials and military personnel, with support from security staff. 

“It is resourced and equipped to process migrants securely while efforts are made to provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible,” Mr Jenrick continued.

But home affairs select committee chairwoman Diana Johnson said she did not recognise the minister’s description of the site. 

“The situation at the Manston facility for cross-channel migrants constitutes a major incident that is escalating in severity,” she said. 

“The number of individuals being detained is larger than any prison in this country and vastly oustrips its capacity of 1,600 people.”

The former RAF base was opened in January by the Home Office as a short-term holding facility to house small boat arrivals for a 24-hour period before moving them to other accommodation. 

Criticism of the site has intensified this week after Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal said he was left “speechless” by “wretched conditions” at Manston, including extreme overcrowding and staff who were not properly trained to do their jobs. 

In the Commons, Ms Johnson pressed the immigration minister on the legality of accommodating asylum-seekers at the site for well over 24 hours. 

Responding, Mr Jenrick said he was concerned by Mr Neal’s evidence and would be visiting Manston next week.

Conditions at Manston have also been criticised by unions representing border, immigration and customs officials. 

ISU spokesperson Lucy Moreton told the BBC on Thursday that the site is “catastrophically overcrowded” and people are not being held in “humane conditions.” 

“The individuals there, both the contractor and the immigration staff, have no training as prison officers or in public order situations and yet are being called upon on a daily basis to intervene,” she said.