Proposed Asylum Seekers Detention Centre Isle of man

AuthorityCabinet Office
Date received2021-03-18
OutcomeSome information sent but part exempt
Outcome date2021-04-14
Case ID1714229

Summary

The request sought all internal and external correspondence regarding the UK's proposal to use the Isle of Man as an asylum seeker detention centre. The Cabinet Office released 94 pages of documents, primarily consisting of media monitoring, briefing notes, and internal communications, while confirming no official requests had been received from the UK government.

Key Facts

  • The Isle of Man government confirmed it had received no official requests from the UK regarding the asylum centre proposal.
  • Internal correspondence noted that the Isle of Man lacks legislative provisions to deal with asylum seekers.
  • Media reports suggested the UK was considering various locations including the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, and third countries like Papua New Guinea.
  • The response included extensive media monitoring and briefing notes prepared for a call with the Ministry of Justice.
  • The Chief Minister stated that Tynwald would debate any official requests if they were received.

Data Disclosed

  • 1714229
  • 2021-03-18
  • 2021-04-14
  • 94
  • 6
  • 01/10/2020
  • 16/10/2020
  • 18/03/2021
  • 19/10/2020

Original Request

Dear Sirs I would ask for all emails the Isle of man government hold on the issue of the Island being proposed by the United Kingdom as a potential Asylum Seekers Detention centre. Under this freedom of information request i would request all Isle of man internal correspondence as well as any letters emails ect that surround or discuss this issue as well as any emails letters to and from the United Kingdom that relate to the proposal.

Data Tables (5)

Doc no Date summary Location
1 01/10/2020 query from MOP re asylum detention centre on IOM Appendix 3
2 16/10/2020 briefing document on media articles in relation to Crown Dependencies Appendix 2
3 01/10/2020 Media enquiry (Manx Radio) to Comms re Daily Mail article Appendix 3
4 02/10/2020 Media enquiry (IOMToday) to Comms re UK press article Appendix 3
5 03/10/2020 Media enquiry (Manx Radio) to Comms re UK press article Appendix 3
6 03/10/2020 Internal record of Comms query (Manx Radio) Appendix 3
7 03/10/2020 Internal comms statement approval with Chief Sec Appendix 3
8 06/10/2020 internal notification of UK Parliamentary question Appendix 3
9 18/03/2021 internal summary of topics for briefing notes ahead of MOJ call Appendix 2
10 18/03/2021 sharing content of Energy FM news article with request for information Appendix 3
11 18/03/2021 CM reply to C Christian, MHK, confirming no official requests and Tynwald would debate any received Appendix 3
12 18/03/2021 Notification of news article Appendix 3
13 18/03/2021 Lansons round up of news articles relating to the asylum processing story Appendix 3
14 18/03/2021 Lansons draft media response to media article Appendix 3
15 18/03/2021 Lansons media coverage of story inc IOM statement Appendix 3
16 18/03/2021 internal circulation of link to media article Appendix 3
17 18/03/2021 Lansons, further monitoring of media coverage of this story Appendix 3
18 18/03/2021 internal circulation of link to media article Appendix 3
19 18/03/2021 Lansons circulation of link to news article Appendix 3
20 18/03/2021 response to doc 9 - internal summary of topics for briefing notes ahead of MOJ call Appendix 2
21 18/03/2021 Comms discussion re response to media enquiry via Lansons Appendix 3
22 18/03/2021 Lansons daily briefing round up of media stories Appendix 2
23 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Times Radio) Appendix 3
24 18/03/2021 Briefing material for MOJ call Appendix 2
25 18/03/2021 Kantar summary of media stories Appendix 3
26 16/10/2020 gathering information on asylum seekers to reply to Doc 1 Appendix 3
27 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Guardian) Appendix 3
28 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Sky) Appendix 3
29 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (ITV) Appendix 3
30 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (BBC) Appendix 3
31 18/03/2021 Approval of Lansons media response Appendix 3
32 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Mannin Group) Appendix 3
33 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (DPA) Appendix 3
34 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (FT) Appendix 3
35 18/03/2021 CM response to C Christian MHK Appendix 3
36 18/03/2021 Media enquiry (Guardian) via Lansons Appendix 3
37 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Gef) Appendix 3
38 18/03/2021 circulation of link to article Appendix 3
39 18/03/2021 Approval of media response Appendix 3
40 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (IOMToday) Appendix 3
41 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (ITV) Appendix 3
42 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Manx Radio) Appendix 3
43 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (PA Media) Appendix 3
44 19/10/2020 Links to asylum seeker documents Appendix 3
2 The Home Office has said It would be inappropriate’ to say if Sark on list as centre to process asylum seekers (Guernsey Press)  Reports have suggested various schemes being considered by the Home Office include processing asylum seekers in disused ferries moored off the coast, while it has also been claimed the UK is looking at sending migrants to centres in Papua New Guinea, Moldova, Morocco or even the Isle of Man.
9 Will housing asylum seekers be on the agenda for the call? And I agree, we may want to at least make an aside on the asylum seekers point. I have at the back of my mind that we cannot actually deal with asylum seekers in IoM as we have no legislative provisions which relates to asylum (although I am more than likely out of date on that one).
20 As doc 9 plus: Yes, I will add some notes on the asylum seeker and tunnel stories.
22  Asylum seekers could be sent abroad for processing under government plans to discourage people from making dangerous journeys to Britain. (The Times) o Priti Patel, the home secretary, will publish details next week of plans for the biggest overhaul of the asylum and immigration system for a generation. It will include a consultation on changing the law so that migrants seeking asylum can be sent to processing centres in third countries. o The Times understands that Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, and the Isle of Man, a Crown dependency, have been discussed by officials. Other islands off the British coast, possibly in Scotland, are said to be under consideration. o Off-shore British territories have been described as “in the mix”.
24 Asylum Seekers  Second time this has been raised, difficult for us for local handling.  Can anything be done to stop this from being raised again?  UK Government would not be able to open any sort of processing centre on the Island without consent  We have not been approached by the Home Office.  It would be helpful to have an understanding of background.  We understand there is a report to be published next week – can you assure us that we will not be mentioned in that report? And if so, can we have early sight of it (pre-publication)?  We have to emphasise that we are not set up for the needs of displaced persons in the Isle of Man.
Asylum seekers could be sent to Isle of Man says Patel
Thu, 18 Mar 2021
Asylum seekers could be sent to processing centres abroad under the home secretary's plans to
overhaul the immigration system, according to reports.
The British overseas territory of Gibraltar is a location under consideration by officials, according to The
Times, as well as the Isle of Man and other islands off the British coast.
Priti Patel has vowed to stop migrants making the perilous journey across the English Channel and is
expected to publish details of plans overhauling the UK's asylum and immigration system next week.
The Times said plans due to be set out will include a consultation on changing the law so that migrants
seeking asylum can be sent to processing centres in third countries.
It follows a series of leaks last year suggesting the UK government was considering a number of offshore
policies akin to those used in Australia.
These included sending asylum seekers to Ascension Island, more than 4,000 miles from the UK, to be
processed, and turning disused ferries out at sea into processing centres.
The ideas were dismissed by critics at the time as unfeasible, while Labour condemned the suggestion of
an asylum processing centre on Ascension Island as "inhumane, completely impractical and wildly
expensive".
The government believes sending migrants to third countries for processing would be compliant with the
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), according to reports.
The Times said the new legislation will include life sentences for people smugglers and the establishment
of migrant reception centres on government land, with many currently being housed in hotels.
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Full Response Text

Appendix 1 - Summary of documents relating to FOI request ref 1714229 Doc no Date summary Location 1 01/10/2020 query from MOP re asylum detention centre on IOM Appendix 3 2 16/10/2020 briefing document on media articles in relation to Crown Dependencies Appendix 2 3 01/10/2020 Media enquiry (Manx Radio) to Comms re Daily Mail article Appendix 3 4 02/10/2020 Media enquiry (IOMToday) to Comms re UK press article Appendix 3 5 03/10/2020 Media enquiry (Manx Radio) to Comms re UK press article Appendix 3 6 03/10/2020 Internal record of Comms query (Manx Radio) Appendix 3 7 03/10/2020 Internal comms statement approval with Chief Sec Appendix 3 8 06/10/2020 internal notification of UK Parliamentary question Appendix 3 9 18/03/2021 internal summary of topics for briefing notes ahead of MOJ call Appendix 2 10 18/03/2021 sharing content of Energy FM news article with request for information Appendix 3 11 18/03/2021 CM reply to C Christian, MHK, confirming no official requests and Tynwald would debate any received Appendix 3 12 18/03/2021 Notification of news article Appendix 3 13 18/03/2021 Lansons round up of news articles relating to the asylum processing story Appendix 3 14 18/03/2021 Lansons draft media response to media article Appendix 3 15 18/03/2021 Lansons media coverage of story inc IOM statement Appendix 3 16 18/03/2021 internal circulation of link to media article Appendix 3 17 18/03/2021 Lansons, further monitoring of media coverage of this story Appendix 3 18 18/03/2021 internal circulation of link to media article Appendix 3 19 18/03/2021 Lansons circulation of link to news article Appendix 3 20 18/03/2021 response to doc 9 - internal summary of topics for briefing notes ahead of MOJ call Appendix 2 21 18/03/2021 Comms discussion re response to media enquiry via Lansons Appendix 3 22 18/03/2021 Lansons daily briefing round up of media stories Appendix 2 23 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Times Radio) Appendix 3 24 18/03/2021 Briefing material for MOJ call Appendix 2 25 18/03/2021 Kantar summary of media stories Appendix 3 26 16/10/2020 gathering information on asylum seekers to reply to Doc 1 Appendix 3 27 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Guardian) Appendix 3 28 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Sky) Appendix 3 29 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (ITV) Appendix 3 30 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (BBC) Appendix 3 31 18/03/2021 Approval of Lansons media response Appendix 3 32 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Mannin Group) Appendix 3 33 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (DPA) Appendix 3 34 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (FT) Appendix 3 35 18/03/2021 CM response to C Christian MHK Appendix 3 36 18/03/2021 Media enquiry (Guardian) via Lansons Appendix 3 37 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Gef) Appendix 3 38 18/03/2021 circulation of link to article Appendix 3 39 18/03/2021 Approval of media response Appendix 3 40 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (IOMToday) Appendix 3 41 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (ITV) Appendix 3 42 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (Manx Radio) Appendix 3 43 18/03/2021 Response to Media enquiry (PA Media) Appendix 3 44 19/10/2020 Links to asylum seeker documents Appendix 3

Appendix 2 – extracts from documents

2 The Home Office has said It would be inappropriate’ to say if Sark on list as centre to process asylum seekers (Guernsey Press)  Reports have suggested various schemes being considered by the Home Office include processing asylum seekers in disused ferries moored off the coast, while it has also been claimed the UK is looking at sending migrants to centres in Papua New Guinea, Moldova, Morocco or even the Isle of Man.

9 Will housing asylum seekers be on the agenda for the call?

And I agree, we may want to at least make an aside on the asylum seekers point. I have at the back of my mind that we cannot actually deal with asylum seekers in IoM as we have no legislative provisions which relates to asylum (although I am more than likely out of date on that one). 20 As doc 9 plus: Yes, I will add some notes on the asylum seeker and tunnel stories. 22  Asylum seekers could be sent abroad for processing under government plans to discourage people from making dangerous journeys to Britain. (The Times) o Priti Patel, the home secretary, will publish details next week of plans for the biggest overhaul of the asylum and immigration system for a generation. It will include a consultation on changing the law so that migrants seeking asylum can be sent to processing centres in third countries. o The Times understands that Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, and the Isle of Man, a Crown dependency, have been discussed by officials. Other islands off the British coast, possibly in Scotland, are said to be under consideration.
o Off-shore British territories have been described as “in the mix”.

24 Asylum Seekers  Second time this has been raised, difficult for us for local handling.  Can anything be done to stop this from being raised again?  UK Government would not be able to open any sort of processing centre on the Island without consent
 We have not been approached by the Home Office.  It would be helpful to have an understanding of background.  We understand there is a report to be published next week – can you assure us that we will not be mentioned in that report? And if so, can we have early sight of it (pre-publication)?
 We have to emphasise that we are not set up for the needs of displaced persons in the Isle of Man.

From:

Sent: 26 March 2021 11:49 To:

Subject: FW: Incarceration of Asylum Seekers and other migrants

From: On Behalf Of Chief Minister Sent: 14 October 2020 15:36 To: Taylor, Annie Annie.Taylor@cso.gov.im; Robinson, Nick (P.I.N) Nick.Robinson@gov.im Subject: FW: Incarceration of Asylum Seekers and other migrants

Hi Both,

Chief has received the below email and has asked if you could send a response on his behalf please.

Thanks

Chief Secretary’s Office l Cabinet Office l Isle of Man Government l 3rd Floor Government Office l Bucks Road l Douglas l Isle of Man l IM1 3PN l
@gov.im l https://www.gov.im| 01624

From:

Sent: 01 October 2020 07:00 To: Chief Minister Chief.Minister@gov.im Subject: Incarceration of Asylum Seekers and other migrants

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.

Dear Howard

I refer to today’s news reports that the UK government is considering the Island (amongst other places) as a place where asylum seekers and other migrants currently in, or who may arrive in, the UK might be incarcerated.

I am concerned at this for four reasons:

  1. Constitutional Position

The position of the Island in relation to the UK is very different from that which prevailed during 20th century wars. The Island’s international profile is potentially seriously adversely affected by any suggestion that the UK government now has power to make any decision of this kind, which would relate clearly to the internal affairs of the Island.

  1. Security

If temporary accommodation is to be provided for asylum seekers it would have to be in the basis that our population is protected and that the Island’s reputation is protected, by severely limiting the access these people might have to telecommunications to ensure that the Island’s reputation is not harmed by inappropriate or illegal activities engaged in by these asylum seekers when in the Island.

  1. Financial Arrangements

If Island residents are to be potentially inconvenienced, and our government put to expense, in relation to asylum seekers the financial benefits should accrue to the Island’s government, not (as in past incarcerations) to individual entrepreneurs.

  1. Health and Education

Careful consideration would need to be given to the arrangements to ensure:

4.1 that Island residents did not suffer poorer or delayed service by reason of resources being used to provide these services to asylum seekers

4.2 that the costs are fully borne by the UK government (with a mark-up to reflect uncertainty)

4.3.that this is not an opportunity for incarcerated people to escape from incarceration.

There will be many other practical issues. However, this matter might be an opportunity to extract from the UK government agreement on significant matters (I do not know what they are, but there must be many) where the Island and the UK are not currently in agreement.

Kind regards

Sent from my iPad From: Davies, Jonathan Sent: 01 October 2020 12:19 To:

Subject: RE: Asylum processing centres

Thanks, aware of this one

Kind regards

Jonathan

From: gov.im>
Sent: 01 October 2020 12:18 To: Davies, Jonathan Jonathan.Davies@gov.im Subject: FW: Asylum processing centres Importance: High

Hi Jonathan,

called for you on the below article:

Within the article it talks about the possibility of asylum centres on the IOM (and isle of wight etc)

I asked if he could send over a link to the article.

Thanks,

From: @manxradio.com>
Sent: 01 October 2020 12:09 To: @gov.im> Subject: Asylum processing centres Importance: High

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Hi ,

Following our phone call just now, see the DM article attached: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8791707/Migrant-hostels-set-Isle-Wight-offshoring- proposals.html?ito=fbmessenger share article-top

Again, we’d just like to know if government were made aware of these plans – however hypothetical they may be.

Any response would be great.

All the best,

89 • 89.5 •97.2 • 103.7FM and 1368AM Listen live: Click Here

Manx Radio, Broadcasting House, Douglas Head, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5BW [t] +44 (0)1624

email: @manxradio.com manxradio.com

Disclaimer warning: This communication is confidential. You must not copy or disclose it if it has been mistakenly sent to you.
If it has, please delete it and let the originator know as soon as you can. This email and any attachments have been scanned for viruses.
Radio Manx Limited. Registered in the Isle of Man No, 1486.

From: Davies, Jonathan Sent: 03 October 2020 21:43 To:

Subject: RE: from

Hi

Sorry for the delay…

The Isle of Man Government would not comment on what appear to be reports of leaked UK Government documents, however, as the Isle of Man is self-governing, the UK Government would not be able to open any sort of processing centre on the Island without consent. The UK Government has not contacted the Isle of Man Government about any such proposal.

Kind regards

Jonathan

From: @iomtoday.co.im>
Sent: 02 October 2020 12:58 To: Davies, Jonathan Jonathan.Davies@gov.im Subject: from

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Hi Jonathan,
Can I have a comment from govt on reports in the UK press that the Home Secretary is considering 'offshoring' asylum seekers, and suggested as locations Shetland, the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Man. Has there been any consultation with the Manx authorities on this? What view does the govt have on such a suggestion?

Isle of Man Newspapers 01624

From: Davies, Jonathan Sent: 03 October 2020 21:43 To:

Subject: RE: Asylum story

Dear

My apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

I can provide the following:

The Isle of Man Government would not comment on what appear to be reports of leaked UK Government documents, however, as the Isle of Man is self-governing, the UK Government would not be able to open any sort of processing centre on the Island without consent. The UK Government has not contacted the Isle of Man Government about any such proposal.

Kind regards

Jonathan

From: @manxradio.com>
Sent: 02 October 2020 12:53 To: Davies, Jonathan Jonathan.Davies@gov.im Subject: FW: Asylum story

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Hi Jonathan,

I spoke to yesterday about requesting comment on the Daily Mail article, referencing the Isle of Man as a potential ‘asylum processing centre’.

As I mention in the email below, we’re still being sent regular messages from listeners, requesting more information on this.

If this could be addressed soon that would be very helpful.

All the best,

From:

Sent: 02 October 2020 12:50 From: Davies, Jonathan Sent: 03 October 2020 21:48 To:

Subject: RE: Asylum processing centres

Scrap that, have added to Vuelio and closed off now

Kind regards

Jonathan

From: Davies, Jonathan
Sent: 03 October 2020 21:32 To: @gov.im> Subject: RE: Asylum processing centres

Cheers – still waiting for line on this to be agreed. Could you please add to Vuelio?

Kind regards

Jonathan

From: @gov.im>
Sent: 01 October 2020 12:18 To: Davies, Jonathan Jonathan.Davies@gov.im Subject: FW: Asylum processing centres Importance: High

Hi Jonathan,

called for you on the below article:

Within the article it talks about the possibility of asylum centres on the IOM (and isle of wight etc)

I asked if he could send over a link to the article.

Thanks,

From: @manxradio.com>
Sent: 01 October 2020 12:09 To: @gov.im> Subject: Asylum processing centres Importance: High

Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Hi ,

Following our phone call just now, see the DM article attached: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8791707/Migrant-hostels-set-Isle-Wight-offshoring- proposals.html?ito=fbmessenger share article-top

Again, we’d just like to know if government were made aware of these plans – however hypothetical they may be.

Any response would be great.

All the best,

89 • 89.5 •97.2 • 103.7FM and 1368AM Listen live: Click Here

Manx Radio, Broadcasting House, Douglas Head, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 5BW [t] +44 (0)1624

email: @manxradio.com manxradio.com

Disclaimer warning: This communication is confidential. You must not copy or disclose it if it has been mistakenly sent to you.
If it has, please delete it and let the originator know as soon as you can. This email and any attachments have been scanned for viruses.
Radio Manx Limited. Registered in the Isle of Man No, 1486.

From: Greenhow, Will Sent: 03 October 2020 21:40 To: Davies, Jonathan Cc: Parkinson, Kayleigh Subject: RE: Media enquiries: Processing centre for asyl

[Response truncated — full text is 102,753 characters]