The UK Home Office has implemented various schemes to restrict the influx of asylum seekers into the country. However, many of these schemes have demonstrated flaws either during implementation or have been deemed illegal before they even began. The latest controversial scheme involves housing individuals on a large barge called the Bibby Stockholm, which is currently stationed in Portland harbour. Its effectiveness remains uncertain, and initial signs are not optimistic.
Will it follow the path of Napier barracks in Folkestone, which despite facing severe criticism from the high court and experiencing a major Covid outbreak during the peak of the pandemic, continues to accommodate asylum seekers? The Home Office claims that conditions have significantly improved, but the legality of the situation remains questionable. Alternatively, will it resemble the unlawful plan to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda, which was ruled illegal by the court of appeal and awaits further review by the supreme court in October? Lawyers representing asylum seekers have already expressed legal concerns about the barge. In comparison to the ill-fated proposal to deploy officials on jetskis to deter small boats in the Channel, the barge scheme has progressed further, although eventually abandoned due to legal challenges.
The Bibby Stockholm barge serves as a powerful visual representation of the government’s “stop the boats” campaign, aiming to dissuade small boats from crossing by utilizing a large boat. Some critics have raised concerns about the fire hazards associated with accommodating over 500 asylum seekers in 220 cabins, warning that it could lead to a “floating Grenfell” disaster. Others have likened it to 18th-century prison ships. The problem with using such a strong visual symbol is that if the scheme fails, it could backfire and become a symbol of the Home Office’s incompetence.
It’s important to note that the barge will only accommodate a small fraction of the Home Office’s current responsibility of supporting over 100,000 destitute asylum seekers. The government intends to demonstrate a shift away from housing asylum seekers in “luxury” hotels. However, the opening of the barge has faced multiple delays, including its relocation from Falmouth to Portland for repairs. The expected opening date, initially planned shortly after a media event to showcase the barge, has been postponed several times. According to the latest update, asylum seekers are expected to be transferred to the barge sometime next week.
Concerns have been raised by various groups since the barge was repurposed for UK asylum accommodation. These include Dorset council, the Health and Safety Executive, the Fire Brigades Union, and refugee and human rights campaigners. They fear that cramped living conditions on the barge, with cabins similar in size to prison cells where some individuals were previously tortured in their home countries, could severely impact the physical and mental health of asylum seekers. Additionally, the constant presence of water within their line of sight may retraumatize those who have experienced near-drowning incidents in the Mediterranean or the Channel en route to the UK.
Government ministers tend to downplay the trauma and vulnerabilities faced by asylum seekers in their public rhetoric, as acknowledging them may undermine their efforts to deter arrivals in the UK. However, the government’s previous failures to address these vulnerabilities could be repeated with the barge scheme. Even when the Rwanda plan was initially deemed lawful by the high court before being overturned by the court of appeal, judges emphasized that no one should be sent to Rwanda without thoroughly examining the specifics of their individual cases. This time-consuming process was previously avoided by the Home Office. In fact, some vulnerable individuals transferred to the Wethersfield military base in Essex were subsequently removed shortly after arrival due to unsuitability for that harsh and remote location.
Considering the challenges, it is doubtful whether the barge plan will succeed. Instead, the Home Office should consider pursuing an alternative plan that expedites the processing of asylum claims, as recommended by experts. However, this may not align with the government’s preference for attention-grabbing initiatives.
In the end, many refugees who seek refuge in the UK will be granted protection based on their qualification under international law. The Home Office has stated that asylum seekers who spend a certain period in the Rwanda “pool” (currently not sending individuals to Rwanda) will then have their cases reviewed within the main asylum pool in the UK.
The constant cycle of barges, Rwanda, military bases, and tents, along with whatever new ideas the Home Office concocts, seems reminiscent of being directed in circles by a flawed navigation app rather than simply taking a straightforward route to reach the intended destination.
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