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The author, a historian at the University of Liverpool
In the upcoming weeks, the British government plans to house asylum seekers on a barge located in Portland, Dorset. This proposal was officially announced in April but has faced delays due to protests and growing public criticism.
This situation reminds us of past occurrences in Britain, where historical comparisons can be made to prison hulks. These floating prisons, popularized through adaptations of Great Expectations, have left a lasting imprint on public memory. However, the key distinction today is that our society no longer embraces the Victorian values that supported such a system. Public opinion shifts more rapidly in the present era.
There are noteworthy similarities between the past and the present. Prison hulks were initially implemented as emergency measures in 1776, following the start of the American War of Independence. With convicts no longer being transported to the American colonies, the rising number of prisoners posed a threat to existing penitentiaries. Hulks served as pivotal elements in the government’s strategy to deport individuals to New South Wales and Tasmania.
Naturally, ships have historically been used to provide temporary housing for various purposes, including reformatory units for juveniles and quarantine facilities for the sick. Therefore, the decision of the Home Office to utilize the Bibby Stockholm in Dorset, along with other vessels in the future, to accommodate “non-detained” asylum seekers is not entirely surprising.
When the first prison hulk, the Justitia, was anchored in Woolwich in 1776, local residents expressed concerns regarding potential threats from escaped convicts. Similarly, recent protests targeting the Bibby Stockholm in Portland have reflected similar worries about the town’s insufficient infrastructure to support the plan, street safety, and the impact on tourism. Already, cruise ships scheduled to visit the Jurassic Coast are altering their routes to avoid the port due to the disruption.
Humanitarian objections also arise, given that the ship is intended to house asylum seekers, many of whom have fled war and persecution. These detainees will likely arrive in smaller, staggered groups, potentially facing protests and confrontations upon arrival.
In the 19th century, everyday people initially ignored the existence of hulks due to their own issues, as wars with America and France had caused economic recession and widespread poverty. However, a shift in public opinion occurred when the Victorian-era press experienced a surge in coverage. Newspapers, pamphlets, and periodicals circulated, contributing to increased literacy rates. Both the rich and the poor read about the hulks, and their perception of convicts transformed from seeing them as dangerous to viewing them as victims of a failed state.
Prison inspectors published reports highlighting the high costs of maintaining deteriorating wooden ships, emphasizing that continuous repairs and modifications were more expensive than constructing permanent prisons on land. Today, advocates argue that placing asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm will not eliminate the use of hotels, making any savings negligible.
In England, the change in public opinion during the mid-19th century played a significant role in the demise of the hulk system. However, it took longer to dismantle this system in colonies such as Bermuda and Gibraltar, where media coverage was less vocal and ships were kept away from public view. Prison ships have not entirely faded into history, as evidenced by the political controversy surrounding HMP Weare, a prison ship used in Portland Harbour from 1997 to 2005, which proved unpopular and costly to operate.
Currently, support for migrant barges appears to be waning. While the Home Office may choose to disregard historical parallels, the public is increasingly aware of them. It may only be a matter of time before the policy sinks.
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