Our friends at the Refugee Council recently highlighted that the government has quietly changed the rules on detention following the Manston crisis a month or so ago – extending lawful detention for people seeking refugee protection to 96 hours.
The previous short-term holding facility rules 2018 stated that a “holding room” means a short-term holding facility where a detained person may be detained for a period of not more than 24 hours unless a longer period is authorised by the Secretary of State. The new amended rules of 2022 now state: ““residential holding room” means a short-term holding facility where a detained person may be detained for a period of not more than 96 hours unless a longer period is authorised by the Secretary of State”.
