High Court finds barracks fail to meet minimum standards, leading to legal victory for six asylum seekers.
Pressure is increasing on the UK Home Office to close Napier Barracks, a controversial facility in Kent, after a damning High Court ruling that found the accommodation was inadequate for asylum seekers. On June 3, six asylum seekers won a legal case against the government, with the judge declaring the barracks failed to meet the minimum standards for housing and that the process for selecting residents was flawed and unlawful.
The court also found that the Home Office’s use of Napier Barracks violated Covid-19 regulations, with residents unlawfully detained under the guise of pandemic restrictions. Over 400 asylum seekers were housed in the facility, where conditions were deemed unsafe and detrimental to mental health, particularly as many residents faced vulnerabilities to health risks, including Covid-19.
Human rights organizations and legal experts have called for the provision of alternative, safer accommodations for asylum seekers. While the Home Office is contracted to use Napier Barracks until September, campaigners fear the government may extend its use, despite the growing criticisms from courts, independent inspectors, and charities.
