Tories quietly quadruple length of detention for asylum seekers in Manston

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is changing the law so that desperate people arriving in the UK in small boats can be detained for a period of time period not exceeding 96 hours' in detention centers

The Tories have given themselves the power to detain migrants arriving in the UK in small boats for longer (

Image: AFP via Getty Images

Asylum seekers who have crossed the English Channel can be detained for up to four days under new rules quietly announced by the government.

The Tories have given themselves the power to quadruple the length of time migrants can be held in short-term processing centers like Manston, Kent, from January 5.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman wants people who have arrived in the UK in small boats to be able to be detained for 'a period not exceeding 96 hours' - unless a longer period is required authorized by the government.

Under previous rules, asylum seekers could only be detained for up to 24 hours.

The government came under intense pressure due to major overcrowding in Manston in the fall, when it emerged that some migrants were being held beyond the legal 24-hour limit.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

At one point, the facility housed up to 4,000 people when it was only designed for 1,600 inmates.

It is only designed to house people for short periods of time for security and identity checks before they are moved to longer-term accommodation

The Home Office admitted last month that the death of a man held at the center may have been caused by diphtheria, despite reports of outbreaks at the facility.

Rishi Sunak has made the small boat crisis one of his top priorities and this week unveiled a