Situation
The Bibby Stockholm, the UK’s accommodation barge for asylum seekers while the Home Office processes their applications, has been ‘re-opened’ for residents in October 2023. Under the UK government’s plan to accommodate asylum seekers on the barge to reduce costly hotel bills, nearly £8 million a day, the vessel at Portland Port housed thirty-nine people on 7 August 2023. In less than a month, strains of deadly legionella bacteria were found on the barge leading to complete evacuation and water cleaning onboard. Having dealt with the health crises, the Home Office notified the residents of their return to the barge on 19 October, moving ahead with national plans to reform the asylum system.
Background
The UK government’s national plans to deal with the pressure on the asylum system from the arrival of small boats involved ‘alternative’ accommodation options, such as the Bibby Stockholm Barge. These are argued to be cheaper and more manageable for communities, adopting prior European efforts, such as by the Scottish and Dutch governments, in the UK. Essential provisions, as obligated under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999, by the government, required inclusion of primary healthcare, 24/7 security, and comfortable housing among others.
The Bibby Stockholm barge was thereby indulged to statutory inspection, and refurbishment and subjected to certification and regulatory inspection, for an initial operation of 18 months and subsequent review. The vessel was equipped to accommodate 500 adult single male asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65, who would otherwise be destitute.
Despite reformatory aims as set out in plans, the barge has been confronted with popular criticism and humanitarian concerns furthered by the United Nations and international human rights lawyers.
Impact
The barge has come under serious contention given safety and health concerns. The outbreak of legionella bacteria brings forth the negligence of authorities in ensuring safety. Further, the Fire Brigades Union had addressed an open letter to the Home Secretary stating the dangers of overcrowding and the narrow exits in the structure requiring specialist training and safe systems in constant operation.
For the residents, mental and physical health were major concerns; according to interviews with The Guardian, some of the thirty-nine residents fell ill while one attempted suicide in the limited days of residence. The asylum seekers wrote, “Some of us displayed symptoms of legionnaires’ disease, but no one responded to us”; “Nobody can really bear to return to the ship. In addition to the water, the risk of fire and the spread of disease in this small space is very high. In my opinion, the Home Office has not done its research on this ship”.
The asylum seekers have consistently opposed the accommodation on the barge owing to the poor and prison-like living conditions.
Current Action
The government’s provision of ‘basic and functional’ accommodation has opened doors to scrutiny of broader policy processes altogether. Primarily, the severe backlog of asylum applications; 133,607 applications pending as of March 2023; is under question as it extends onto 400 hotels and millions of pounds in taxpayers’ money.
Previous failed attempts at challenging this decision include the case lodged by a local councillor Carralyn Parkes at the Portland High Court. The court ruled that Mrs Parkes did not have an arguable case, as she presented a “breach of planning control” and non-compliance with environmental impact assessments. She further stated, "I think containing people on the barge is an inhumane way to treat those fleeing from war, conflict or persecution. Together I hope we can hold the government to account."
As the thirty-nine persons who initially resided on the barge have expressed their unwillingness to return, petitions and public oppositions addressed to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have been launched calling for the barge plan to be abandoned and for the people to be accommodated into communities instead.
The Home Office has sent letters confirming the asylum seekers’ return to the barge as healthy and safety checks have been completed. Local communities and volunteers, while protesting the plan, have attempted to curate a supportive group, welcoming the residents with “goody bags” of donations containing toiletries, a local map, and notebooks along with the contact number of a local support group.
Vrinda Sahai
References
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/what-bibby-stockholm-asylum-seekers-housing-barge-b1099198.html
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-factsheets/factsheet-asylum-accommodation-on-a-vessel-in-portland-port#why-is-the-government-using-vessels-to-accommodate-asylum-seekers
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/18/uk-migration-bill-at-odds-with-international-law-un?traffic_source=KeepReading
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/11/health-fears-force-uk-to-remove-refugees-from-bibby-stockholm-barge
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/12/the-guardian-view-on-bibby-stockholm-behold-the-great-floating-fiasco
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/11/mayor-portland-loses-fight-block-bibby-stockholm-migrants/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-67064005
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/08/legionella-found-onboard-the-bibby-stockholm-is-most-deadly-strain
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/10/home-office-send-asylum-seekers-back-bibby-stockholm-barge-legionella
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66270811
The Bibby Stockholm, the UK’s accommodation barge for asylum seekers while the Home Office processes their applications, has been ‘re-opened’ for residents in October 2023. Under the UK government’s plan to accommodate asylum seekers on the barge to reduce costly hotel bills, nearly £8 million a day, the vessel at Portland Port housed thirty-nine people on 7 August 2023. In less than a month, strains of deadly legionella bacteria were found on the barge leading to complete evacuation and water cleaning onboard. Having dealt with the health crises, the Home Office notified the residents of their return to the barge on 19 October, moving ahead with national plans to reform the asylum system.
Background
The UK government’s national plans to deal with the pressure on the asylum system from the arrival of small boats involved ‘alternative’ accommodation options, such as the Bibby Stockholm Barge. These are argued to be cheaper and more manageable for communities, adopting prior European efforts, such as by the Scottish and Dutch governments, in the UK. Essential provisions, as obligated under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999, by the government, required inclusion of primary healthcare, 24/7 security, and comfortable housing among others.
The Bibby Stockholm barge was thereby indulged to statutory inspection, and refurbishment and subjected to certification and regulatory inspection, for an initial operation of 18 months and subsequent review. The vessel was equipped to accommodate 500 adult single male asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65, who would otherwise be destitute.
Despite reformatory aims as set out in plans, the barge has been confronted with popular criticism and humanitarian concerns furthered by the United Nations and international human rights lawyers.
Impact
The barge has come under serious contention given safety and health concerns. The outbreak of legionella bacteria brings forth the negligence of authorities in ensuring safety. Further, the Fire Brigades Union had addressed an open letter to the Home Secretary stating the dangers of overcrowding and the narrow exits in the structure requiring specialist training and safe systems in constant operation.
For the residents, mental and physical health were major concerns; according to interviews with The Guardian, some of the thirty-nine residents fell ill while one attempted suicide in the limited days of residence. The asylum seekers wrote, “Some of us displayed symptoms of legionnaires’ disease, but no one responded to us”; “Nobody can really bear to return to the ship. In addition to the water, the risk of fire and the spread of disease in this small space is very high. In my opinion, the Home Office has not done its research on this ship”.
The asylum seekers have consistently opposed the accommodation on the barge owing to the poor and prison-like living conditions.
Current Action
The government’s provision of ‘basic and functional’ accommodation has opened doors to scrutiny of broader policy processes altogether. Primarily, the severe backlog of asylum applications; 133,607 applications pending as of March 2023; is under question as it extends onto 400 hotels and millions of pounds in taxpayers’ money.
Previous failed attempts at challenging this decision include the case lodged by a local councillor Carralyn Parkes at the Portland High Court. The court ruled that Mrs Parkes did not have an arguable case, as she presented a “breach of planning control” and non-compliance with environmental impact assessments. She further stated, "I think containing people on the barge is an inhumane way to treat those fleeing from war, conflict or persecution. Together I hope we can hold the government to account."
As the thirty-nine persons who initially resided on the barge have expressed their unwillingness to return, petitions and public oppositions addressed to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have been launched calling for the barge plan to be abandoned and for the people to be accommodated into communities instead.
The Home Office has sent letters confirming the asylum seekers’ return to the barge as healthy and safety checks have been completed. Local communities and volunteers, while protesting the plan, have attempted to curate a supportive group, welcoming the residents with “goody bags” of donations containing toiletries, a local map, and notebooks along with the contact number of a local support group.
Vrinda Sahai
References
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/what-bibby-stockholm-asylum-seekers-housing-barge-b1099198.html
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-factsheets/factsheet-asylum-accommodation-on-a-vessel-in-portland-port#why-is-the-government-using-vessels-to-accommodate-asylum-seekers
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/18/uk-migration-bill-at-odds-with-international-law-un?traffic_source=KeepReading
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/11/health-fears-force-uk-to-remove-refugees-from-bibby-stockholm-barge
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/12/the-guardian-view-on-bibby-stockholm-behold-the-great-floating-fiasco
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/11/mayor-portland-loses-fight-block-bibby-stockholm-migrants/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-67064005
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/08/legionella-found-onboard-the-bibby-stockholm-is-most-deadly-strain
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/10/home-office-send-asylum-seekers-back-bibby-stockholm-barge-legionella
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66270811