A large protest against housing refugees inside a ‘prison barge’ at Portland Port is set to be held this weekend. The Bibby Stockholm is currently being inspected and refitted in Falmouth ahead of being towed to Dorset next month.
The Home Office say the barge will house around 500 migrants and aim to offer them safe accommodation while they wait for asylum claims to be processed. Residents, Richard Drax MP, Dorset Council and other bodies remain opposed against the barge for various reasons.
Stand Up To Racism Dorset is following up the public meeting they held on Portland by organising a solidarity march and family-friendly protest at Portland Port. A spokesman said the rally will “make clear that refugees are welcome in Dorset – but that it’s wrong to put them on a prison barge in Portland Harbour”.
READ MORE – ‘Inhumane’ asylum seekers barge shouldn’t be at Portland Port, residents warn
Protesters will highlight the profits that Portland Port will make out from their agreement with the government to house the barge. Reports suggest that Dorset business Langham Industries, which owns Portland Port, will make £2.5 million from its first 18-month contract.
Grafton Straker, joint Chair of Stand Up to Racism Dorset, said “Portland Port didn’t get their way when they tried to make money out of housing an incinerator in Portland. Now they want to profit from the plight of refugees. They should be ashamed, and should start listening to local people.”
There are genuine fears of far-right protests outside the port and target cruise ship passengers on days when cruise ships arrive at the site. The removal of cruise ship arrival dates from its website as a result, but the port was unable to confirm whether it was linked to possible protests.
Councillor Carralyn Parkes said “Refugees are people fleeing war and crisis. The government has closed routes by which most can reach the UK– now it says those who arrive after long, dangerous journeys are ‘illegal’. Inhumane barges and army camps are no solution.”
The protest will also demand adequate funding for our NHS and welfare services that are needed to support Portland communities and all those who come to live in South Dorset. This will be highlighted when the march passes Portland Community Hospital, which local people are campaigning to keep open and for adequate health services for the Island.
Lynne Hubbard, joint Secretary of Stand Up to Racism Dorset, said “We welcome refugees, but it’s just not right to imprison them in Portland without the resources that are needed, and when Portland Port will be making huge profits from this situation. Please join us on this peaceful demonstration of solidarity with refugees and in protest against the prison barge and those who aim to profit from refugees.”
Portland Port clarified that asylum seekers on board would be in the latter stages of their asylum assessment and would have had their fingerprints and identities recorded by the Home Office before going aboard the Bibby Stockholm. They will also receive health screening for medical conditions, but will aim to reduce any impact on local healthcare.
Bill Reeves, chief executive of Portland Port, said: “We understand that there are genuine concerns about the arrival of the accommodation facility for refugees at Portland. We wish to reassure local people that a great deal of effort and co-ordination is being carried out in relation to such issues as security, policing, health provision and other matters.”
The barge is part of a series of schemes from the UK Government aimed at moving asylum seekers away from costly hotel accommodation. The Home Office says asylum seeker hotels cost the British public £6 million a day. However, the leader of Dorset Council and the county’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) have voiced concerns about the port’s decision to allow the barge to dock.
PCC David Sidwick last week called for funding talks with Home Secretary Suella Braverman for the extra policing that will be required when the vessel arrives. Ahead of the Bibby Stockholm’s arrival, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “This Government has been clear that the use of expensive hotels to house the unprecedented number of asylum seekers crossing the Channel is unacceptable and must end – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day.
“This is why we will be using alternative accommodation options which are more manageable for communities, as our European neighbours are doing – including the use of barges to save the British taxpayer money. We are continuing to work closely with the councils and key partners to manage any impact in Falmouth and Portland and that appropriate arrangements are in place.”
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