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<p>The first group of asylum seekers is now at Wethersfield.</p><p>We will be using
a phased approach, gradually increasing the number of asylum seekers accommodated
at the site over time and with the site under constant review. The site will be able
to accommodate 1700 individuals when fully operational.</p><p>The maximum length of
stay at the site is currently between six and nine months, except where the Secretary
of State is unable to find suitable onward dispersed accommodation despite reasonable
efforts to do so.</p><p>Furthermore, we have been applying the lessons learned at
Napier Barracks to ensure that the Wethersfield site runs efficiently. We appreciate
that there are fewer people at Napier but the principles of running a large accommodation
site remain the same.</p><p>In addition to the checks against policing and immigration
databases, at Manston, those individuals identified for the site will be subject to
a suitability assessment. Guidance on the suitability criteria used can be found at
<a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fasylum-accommodation-requests-policy&data=05%7C01%7CASRA-briefingcorrespondence%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C95d2c9d39b684c09428808db89dde60a%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638255358355001269%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wDV0%2FLAR81%2FuCXs7NwArLZj%2FxosoOyzRQoffCwHAHLI%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">Allocation of accommodation</a>. Each person’s suitability will be
assessed at regular intervals and if they are no longer suitable for any reason, they
will be moved to alternative accommodation.</p><p>All asylum seekers in the UK may
contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice, or
guidance, that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding.</p><p>The asylum
seekers selected to move to Wethersfield were new arrivals. These asylum seekers had
been placed in short stay accommodation pending completion of the asylum registration
process and an onward move to contingency accommodation to be arranged. The applicants
selected were notified of the transport arrangements by the accommodation provider,
and around 24 hours notice was given.</p><p>An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) for
Wethersfield has been completed and is currently under a routine review. The EqIA
will be monitored and reviewed quarterly.</p><p>All the asylum seekers staying at
the Wethersfield site will receive appropriate access to legal advice provisions,
and legal representatives will be made available through both in-person visits and
online videoconferencing. The site will facilitate pre-booked access for legal representatives
to visit, including out of hours visits where required, with provision of dedicated
space for in-person conversations with asylum seekers, and appropriate videoconferencing
technology will also be provided on-site to facilitate virtual meetings. Migrant Help
will signpost all asylum seekers to the relevant Legal Providers. Due to the virtual
provisions for legal access on site, access to sufficient legal representation for
Wethersfield will not be constrained by the capacity nor expertise of legal providers
within the local area alone.</p><p>Small boat crossings are dangerous, unnecessary
and put lives at risk. There have been appalling and preventable tragedies in the
English Channel which must stop. We aim to deter illegal entry to the UK, break the
business model of people smugglers and protect the lives of those they endanger. Migrants
are intercepted by Border Force and brought to facilities in Dover to begin processing
their asylum claims.</p><p>Full screening of people’s identity, security checks, initial
asylum screening and processing is undertaken at Western Jet Foil in Dover and Manston,
Kent. Migrants are then moved to suitable accommodation locations as quickly as possible.</p><p>In
terms of healthcare, extensive work has been undertaken with local and national health
partners, including the Multi Agency Forum (MAF) to work through the specifics of
healthcare provision being provided on the site. The health subgroup of the MAF was
set up specifically to look at how we minimise the impact on local health services
and facilitate primary health care on site which has now been established. Financial
support is being provided to NHS Mid and South Essex, and the onsite primary health
care service will register residents so that is no need to register with local GP
practices.</p><p>Upon arrival in the UK, all individuals are offered a health check
at Western Jet Foil in Dover and Manston, Kent. If necessary, healthcare practitioners
at Manston administer medical care. On arrival at Manston, individuals are offered
a diphtheria vaccination in line with current UKHSA recommendations in response to
the outbreak in this population.</p><p>The Home Office has procedures in place to
support individuals with potential symptoms of an infectious disease, including isolation
spaces within Wethersfield and a designated isolation hotel. The Home Office receives
advice and guidance where needed from the local UKHSA Health Protection Team on management
of individuals and contacts with a suspected infectious disease. Anyone with symptoms
of an infectious disease is made to isolate and can only enter the asylum system once
assessed by doctor and deemed to be non-infectious.</p><p>The onsite provider has
prior experience in meeting the health needs of asylum seekers.</p>
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