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Migrant 'Hostels' Could Be Set Up On The Isle of Wight Under Government 'Offshoring' Proposals

Asylum seeker processing centres could be built on the Isle of Wight, according to a new Government proposal.

According to the Daily Mail, the new 'offshoring' proposal is part of Priti Patel's programme to crackdown on the Channel migrant crisis.

It claims hostels could be built on the Island, Shetland Islands and the Isle of Man.

Official documents marked 'sensitive' and produced earlier this month, summarise advice from officials at the Foreign Office, which was asked by Downing Street to 'offer advice on possible options for negotiating an offshore asylum processing facility similar to the Australian model in Papua New Guinea and Nauru'. 

Home Office officials have also been ordered to draw up feasibility studies for the hostel-type centres on islands within the British Isles.

It's also claimed another option being considered is buying retired ferries and converting them into asylum-processing centres. 

The report goes on to say that Boris Johnson is reportedly keen to deter migrants from making dangerous crossings from France with the proposals.

The Home Secretary is understood to believe the processing centres would deter migrants who hope to settle in UK towns and cities. 'Offshoring is still at the scoping stage and policy is yet to be decided,' said a Government source.

'But we are looking at all options to stop the small boats in the Channel, and offshoring is part of that. In terms of locations you could look at the Shetlands, the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Man, and those sorts of areas.

'There are also lots of little islands up by Scotland.'

The full Daily Mail report can be found here.

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