The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) represents 170 people who work in Manston as detention officers. Andy Baxter is the assistant general secretary of the WPO. In an exclusive interview, Mr Baxter, who saw the conditions for himself when he visited the center 12 days ago, told us: “Unrest is spreading throughout the camp. Our members are facing threats from people who are constantly saying “what’s wrong with me? Where will I go? When will I move on?’ Image: Some of the temporary marquees housing migrants in the centre He continued: “When our members can’t answer them, people start threatening sit-ins, threatening hunger strikes and people threatening self-harm.” Mr Baxter told us his members are concerned for their safety. He says there have been “a few incidents” of people making “weapons” out of things like wooden cutlery and toothbrushes. He said: “So far there have been no incidents of these weapons being used on anyone – it seems to be something people want to carry – but our members are really concerned.” Read more: Minister rejects Home Secretary ‘immigrant invasion’ claim Illegal immigration is ‘out of control’, claims Suella Braverman Army aid? Mr Baxter said he believed the army might need to expand its role, which currently includes 14 troops in Manston in a logistical capacity. “Ultimately I think we’re going to see a serious breakdown of public order,” he said. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 0:41 Immigrants threatening to harm themselves The Home Office will not say exactly how many people are inside Manston – but it is believed to be around 4,000. With record numbers of migrants arriving in small boats along the English Channel, around 30 tents providing temporary accommodation – each the size of a football pitch – have been set up. Families are believed to be in former MOD buildings at the abandoned airfield. Hundreds more people were taken to the Manston facility on Monday after a petrol bomb attack at the Border Force migrant center in Dover. Manston is a processing center where people are meant to spend a maximum of five days. Image: A shower area outside the center But it has turned into a detention center because some have been there for weeks, there are no accommodations like hotels to take them, and they can’t leave until they have somewhere to go. It’s hard to talk to the people inside because their phones have been taken away. “Daily Battles” But the charity Humans for Rights Network shared accounts with Sky News from two asylum seekers who were in Manston around a month ago. The 16-year-old Sudanese teenagers are now in London hotels. One told us: “I spent 17 days in Manston. I slept on a blanket and they put another blanket over me that didn’t fit and I felt cold. There were daily fights between people during my stay.” More on Manston: Situation at migrant center ‘a violation of human rights’, says Tory MP “You have to help them” The other said: “There were no beds in the tents, not even chairs. We would put the food boxes on the floor and sleep on them. “I spent the whole time in the clothes they gave me when I arrived and they were wet with rainwater. A skin disease spread during my stay and I was afraid of contracting it. “There are still people in this place and they need medical attention. The winter is harsh and there is no warm place to sleep. You must help them.” We cannot independently verify these accounts, but Mr. Baxter described the conditions he saw himself during his recent visit. ‘Shocking’ He said: “I saw big marquees with pretty poor facilities. Some of the eaves only had plywood floors. “There were no seats. There was no furniture. There were no beds. People told me they slept on the floor at night. They would sleep on a blanket. “If they could get hold of cardboard, they would sleep on cardboard. It was really quite shocking to see people being held in those conditions.”
