Asylum seekers stopped from boarding barge after legal intervention
The controversial Bibby Stockholm received its first asylum seeker residents today – but not everyone ended up on the barge as expected.
Refugee charity Care4Calais confirmed to Metro.co.uk that around 20 people who were supposed to be moved to the barge had their transfers cancelled.
The barge, currently docked in Portland, Dorset, has received criticism from locals and human rights charities, with some likening the accommodation to a ‘quasi prison’.
A group of people holding signs reading ‘welcome’ and ‘refugees welcome – stop the far right’ greeted the first group of people to arrive at the barge.
They went up a metal walkway to board the barge, carrying large bags of their belongings.
However the Home Office says people are not locked up on the barge, and can come and go as they please if they sign in and out.
The first Bibby Stockholm arrivals were delayed after concerns about fire safety were raised. On Sunday deputy prime minister said the first group of asylum seekers would be moved there ‘within weeks’, but wouldn’t give a more specific time frame.
A spokesperson for Care4Calais said they could not confirm the exact number of asylum seekers who had their transfers cancelled, as they are still working through more referrals.
Steve Smith, CEO of the charity, said on Monday: ‘None of the asylum seekers we are supporting have gone to the Bibby Stockholm today as legal representatives have had their transfers cancelled.
‘Amongst our clients are people who are disabled, who have survived torture and modern slavery and who have had traumatic experiences at sea.
‘To house any human being in a “quasi floating prison” like the Bibby Stockholm is inhumane. To try and do so with this group of people is unbelievably cruel.
‘Even just receiving the notices is causing them a great deal of anxiety.
‘Human beings should be housed in communities, not barges. The government could just get on with processing people’s asylum claims, instead they are playing to a gallery that seems to thrive on human suffering.
‘We will continue supporting people to challenge their decision.’
The Home Office declined to confirm how many transfers to the Bibby Stockholm were cancelled on Monday.
Metro.co.uk has approached the Home Office for further comment.
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