UK breaks law by taking refugee housing in “rough” condition: Court | Court news

Refugee defenders have welcomed the High Court’s ruling on the Napier barracks in south-east England.

The UK Conservative government broke the law when the asylum seeker was taken to a crowded and “dirty” barracks on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled.

Six asylum seekers have filed a lawsuit against the administration of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, arguing that the conditions in the Napier barracks pose “real and immediate risks to life and ill-treatment”.

On Thursday, Judge Thomas Linden sided with the men, who determined that the site did not “guarantee a standard of living that was adequate for the health of the claimants.”

Linden said the facility is “dilapidated,” noisy and crowded, and that “the mental health of some residents is impaired.”

“To the extent that the defendant felt that the accommodation was adequate for their needs, that view was rational.”

Hundreds of migrants and refugees arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats Napier barracks since September in southeast England, despite warnings from public health authorities that the facility was inadequate.

A refugee charity said the barracks residents had been “cold-blooded” in the winter and the government said nearly 200 had a positive COVID-19 at this year’s outbreak. In January, there were riots and a fire at the facility.

‘A bet on people’s lives’

Judge Linden also questioned the “kind of detention” setting, considering that residents had to live there voluntarily while processing asylum applications.

“With that in mind, being placed in a detention-like residence – an area surrounded by a perimeter fence covered with whitewashed wire, access through padlocked doors guarded by uniformed security personnel – begins to be a decision that will be appropriate for the needs,” he said.

Refugee advocates welcomed the resolution, which could now lead to claims for damages against Interior Minister Priti Patel.

“This trial claims all that has been said to the government over and over again, that forcing hundreds of refugees into an out-of-town camp during a deadly pandemic was a way to play with people’s lives,” Mariam Kemple Hardy told Refugee Action. “All Napier barracks and other camp-like accommodation should be closed.”

The judge wanted to deny that the barracks had never been used to take asylum seekers, but said “there should be significant improvements in conditions and the number of asylum seekers living in shorter periods”.

Following the ruling, the Interior Ministry said there had been “significant improvement work” on the barracks and would keep them open to “provide safe and secure accommodation”.

“We will look carefully at the verdict and the next steps,” he said.