Asylum Seekers Relocated from Bibby Stockholm Barge

Hundreds of asylum seekers residing on the Bibby Stockholm have been moved from the barge in advance of decisions regarding their eligibility to remain in the UK. Approximately 300 residents have already departed the vessel, with an estimated 100 individuals still onboard, according to BBC understanding. Once situated in temporary accommodation, they are subsequently informed whether they have been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom. If their application is successful, they are given 30 days to secure housing. It was previously announced that the contract for the Bibby Stockholm, which is anchored off Portland in Dorset, would conclude in January 2025. The Home Office confirmed that upon leaving the barge, none of the asylum seekers – all of whom are men – would be transferred to Portland, Weymouth, or the broader Dorset Council area. Instead, they would be “dispersed across the country,” the department added. Campaigners providing assistance to the asylum seekers report that they have been sent to various locations, including Cardiff, Wolverhampton, Bristol, and Worksop. Giovanna Lewis from the Portland Global Friendship Group, which has been supporting the Bibby’s residents, stated: “The men are taken individually by taxi to their new accommodation around the country, where they stay for three or four weeks supported by the Home Office until the decision on their status is made.” She further explained: “If they are given the right to remain they have 30 days to find alternative accommodation. If they are refused they have the right to appeal and are supported while that appeal takes place.” In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson remarked: “This government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed.“ The spokesperson continued: “We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing which will save an estimated £7 billion for the tax payer over the next ten years, and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK. Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation.“ The statement concluded: “We remain absolutely committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.”