Dorset Council will not pursue legal action against the decision to house the Bibby Stockholm at Portland Port due to legal costs and the unlikelihood of succeeding. 500 migrants will be housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge at the port despite some widespread criticism from residents, Tory-led Dorset Council, Conservative MP Richard Drax and human rights campaigners.
Dorset Council learned of the plans in late-March and had “serious concerns about the suitability of the location for this facility” before they were made public by the Home Office and Portland Port in early April. The local authority, who is involved in the Multi-Agency Forum tasked to support the barge, wished to pursue legal advise in order to “challenge to the Home Office’s decision to site a barge for asylum seekers in Portland Port”.
Dorset Council sought legal advice and have explained in a fresh statement today (Wednesday, June 14), that a subsequent legal challenge would be unlikely to succeed and therefore would have had to pay their legal fees and the Home Office’s costs. Dorset Council added they are negotiating the funding for all associated costs and believe that full funding must be provided by the Government for the barge arrangements and services for asylum seekers.
READ MORE – Dorset crime: The neighbourhoods with the most anti-social behaviour
A spokesman said: “Throughout April and May, we also investigated whether to pursue legal action to challenge to the Home Office’s decision to site a barge for asylum seekers in Portland Port.
“We have our own in-house legal team but we also sought specialist, external legal advice from King’s Counsel, a national expert in this field. After much careful consideration of the specialist legal advice and based on the experience of other councils across the country, we decided to not pursue legal action.
“Not only were we advised that a legal challenge would have been unlikely to succeed but that we would also have had to pay the legal costs incurred by the Home Office, as well as our own costs. We sought specific advice about consultation and Leading Counsel advised that there was no duty on the Government to consult us.
“Faced with such clear legal advice our position going forward is to work with the Home Office and our partners to ensure the smooth operation of the barge, with minimal impact on public services, local residents and local businesses. The provision for the asylum seekers accommodated on the barge must be properly resourced and effective.
“We will continue to negotiate the funding for all associated costs (local services and provision) with the Home Office. Dorset Council, Dorset Police and NHS Dorset are clear that full funding must be provided by the Government for the barge arrangements and services for asylum seekers.
“We do not want our residents and services negatively impacted by this situation, whether financially or otherwise.”
An update from the Multi-Agency Forum said preparations for the barge at Portland are ongoing, including training for an emergency response scenario by Home Office and members of local emergency services. A spokesman said the “exercise confirmed developing emergency plans are robust but require further work to refine details.”
The report adds: “A great deal of work is taking place to ensure that the Bibby Stockholm is operated in a safe, secure and successful way both for those onboard the vessel and in the local community. Portland Port has well-established security protocols in place, including its own police and security officers.”
The barge is still expected to arrive at Portland Port in early to mid-June, with 50 asylum seekers to arrive soon after. Cruise ships will continue to visit the port after false claims circulated on social media that arrivals had been cancelled until the end of June.
A number of protests have been held against the Bibby Stockholm as many residents questioning why Portland Port is suitable, wherever the barge is humane to host migrants, transport links to the wider county and South West and its impact on healthcare. Despite the criticism, Portland Port has continued to work with the Home Office, NHS, police, emergency services and other agencies in order to “ensure the safe arrival and operation of the vessel, and to minimise its impact locally and maximise the benefits of its stay”.
The Bibby Stockholm is currently being refurbished and repaired in Falmouth. The barge is part of a new scheme from the British Government that aims to move asylum seekers on from hotel accommodation.
According to the Home Office, asylum seeker hotels cost the British public around £6million every day. The Bibby Stockholm will house more than 500 men in 220 berths.
The barge will be at Portland Port for at least 18 months and will house only single adult male asylum seekers in the latter stages of their asylum applications. A Home Office spokesperson said: “The pressure on the asylum system has continued to grow and requires us to look at a range of accommodation options which offer better value for the British taxpayer than expensive hotels. This is why we continue to source new alternative sites and vessels to accommodate migrants, which are more manageable for communities, as our European neighbours are doing.
“We understand the concerns of local communities and will work closely with councils and key partners to manage the impact of using these sites, including liaising with local police to make sure appropriate arrangements are in place.”
Got a story to share or an issue for us to investigate? Email us at [email protected] to share your pictures, stories and information.
You can stay up-to-date on the top news near you with Dorset Live’s FREE newsletters – enter your email address at the top of the page or sign up to our newsletters here.
READ NEXT: