An investigation has been launched after a racist message targeting asylum seekers was broadcast over radios at the Manston processing centre in Kent.
The message, which said "f*** off you n*****s, go back to where you came from", was allegedly played through portable speakers at the site - where migrants arriving via small boats are processed.
A meeting was held at Manston last Friday to discuss the incident, which has drawn condemnation from both the Home Office and its contractor Mitie.
But as the radio was portable, officials are struggling to identify who broadcast the message, according to reports first published by The Guardian.
'We completely condemn the use of this language and behaviour. We expect Mitie, our contractor, to investigate this claim quickly,' the Home Office said
PA
It remains unclear how many asylum seekers at the Thanet facility heard the broadcast.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We completely condemn the use of this language and behaviour. We expect Mitie, our contractor, to investigate this claim quickly."
And Mitie has already taken action in response to the incident.
"This language is unacceptable and we expect the highest standards from anyone working on site," the firm said.
"As soon as we were made aware of the allegations, we took immediate steps to investigate.
MORE FROM BRITAIN'S MIGRANT FACILITIES:
- Local councillor hits out at £700m asylum centre expansion: 'This area is already deprived!'
- REVEALED: Staggering number in Britain’s detention centres at eye-watering cost to UK taxpayers
- Labour eyes up new deportation scheme with failed asylum seekers sent to the BALKANS as channel crossings skyrocket
PICTURED: Asylum seekers pose through a coach window at the Manston processing centre in 2023
PA
"A new closed-net radio system has been agreed with the Home Office."
Many new arrivals at Manston are said to be suffering from petrol burns and hypothermia after crossing the Channel in small boats.
The processing centre receives asylum seekers who say they have endured long and treacherous journeys - including from far-flung countries like Sudan and Eritrea.
In 2022, Mitie revealed it had received complaints two years prior about racist comments from some staff members in a WhatsApp group, but failed to "escalate" them.
Many new arrivals at Manston (pictured) are said to be suffering from petrol burns and hypothermia after crossing the Channel
PA
Asylum campaign groups have voiced their outrage following the news.
Louise Calvey, the director of the charity Asylum Matters, said: "This is a horrifying report. The people in Manston have newly arrived into our country to ask for our help.
"This is by no means the first report of these sorts of rights abuses at the hands of companies which make huge profits from our asylum system."
In the last full financial year on record, Mitie's operating profits sat at £210million, with revenues rising to £4.5billion.
