Support groups have called for urgent action to overhaul the immigration system following the death of a man staying at the Manston processing centre.

The Home Office confirmed yesterday that a person - understood to be male - died in hospital after “becoming unwell” at the Thanet site.

It is understood he arrived in the UK as part of a small boat crossing on November 12, and was taken ill on Friday evening.

Efforts are under way to inform the man’s next of kin and the death has been reported to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

As a result of the fatality, Freedom From Torture - which provides psychological support to asylum seekers - has called for a “compassionate asylum system”.

It posted on Twitter: “We’ve said it before: this Government’s cruelty to refugees isn’t accidental – it’s the whole point.

“We need a compassionate asylum system that works. NOW.”

Inquest, which supports bereaved families following a death in state care, has called for an independent investigation into the death and an overhaul of the system.

It posted: “It feels as if it was only a matter of time before a death like this happened in this completely closed facility."

At one stage the number of people being held there rose to 4,000 as many were moved from a site in Dover following a firebomb attack on that facility.

The Thanet site is designed to hold 1,600 asylum seekers, and the Home Office says numbers are now at normal levels.

People have described being infected with scabies in overcrowded tents while being forced to sleep on the floor and on chairs at the under-fire facility.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says there will need to be a “full investigation” into this weekend's incident.

The Labour MP said: “We send deepest condolences to the family of the man who has died after staying at Manston.

“There will need to be a full investigation into what has happened in this tragic case.”

A Home Office spokesman has said no further details such as the age or nationality of the deceased would be released at the moment.

She also declined to comment on how the Home Office was responding to the circumstances of the death beyond the referral to the IOPC.