Great Britain continues its policy of deterring migrants. 500 of them are now housed on a controversial barge. In the 1990s, the “Bibby Stockholm” housed asylum seekers in Hamburg.
The UK government has started housing asylum seekers on a three-story barge off the coast. The first men arrived at the port in the southern English city of Portland. There, several people protested against the anchorage of the ship called “Bibby Stockholm”, others against the conservative government’s asylum policy.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to deter migrants with drastic laws. The “Illegal Migration Act” recently passed by Parliament provides for the deportation of almost all refugees who have entered the country illegally. Those affected are to be taken into custody without judicial review and then flown out – either to their home country or to a third country such as Rwanda, with which Great Britain has an appropriate agreement.
The number of people arriving irregularly rose to 45,000 last year, although conservative forces had announced that Brexit would reduce migration. However, since then there has been no readmission agreement with the EU.
Sunak points to space problems and high costs
Up to 500 men between the ages of 18 and 65 are to be accommodated temporarily on board the “Bibby Stockholm”. With this measure, Sunak wants to both solve a space problem when accommodating migrants and avoid high costs from hotel rooms.
The government wants to use other similar barges. “It seems that this government will do everything it can to make asylum seekers feel unwelcome and unsafe in this country,” said Steve Valdez-Symonds of the human rights organization Amnesty International.
He warned of a “retraumatization” of refugees who have escaped war and displacement. “There should be great concern about confining each person to living quarters the typical size of a car park,” Valdez-Symonds said. The refugee aid Care4Calais announced that objections from lawyers had prevented several asylum seekers from having to board.
The capacity of the “Bibby Stockholm” is said to have been increased to 500 people with the help of bunk beds.
The “Bibby Stockholm” was anchored in Hamburg for years
The “Bibby Stockholm” was last used as a floating accommodation for oil workers. In the mid-1990s, in addition to other residential ships, she also accommodated asylum seekers and homeless people in Hamburg for several years. At that time it was designed for about 200 people. As the BBC reported, the capacity has now been increased to 500 with the help of bunk beds. The British fire brigade union warned of risks due to overcrowding.
As a deterrent, the government also announced that it would significantly increase fines for companies and landlords that employ or house irregular migrants. Undeclared work and illegal rentals are major attractions for people who mostly cross the English Channel in small boats. Fines are set to increase from £15,000 to £45,000 (€52,000) per illegally employed worker. Homeowners should pay £10,000 per unauthorized tenant instead of £1,000.