PORTLAND: Britain on Monday began housing migrants on board a barge docked off the southwest English coast, in its latest controversial immigration policy that has drawn heavy criticism from locals and rights campaigners.

       The “Bibby Stockholm”, which has been moored for weeks in Portland on the Dorset coastline, accepted the first of up to 500 young, male inhabitants due to stay there, after a series of delays.

       The decision to dock the vessel in Portland, a small island with a population of about 13,600 people, has prompted a backlash from some locals, including its Con-servative MP, who argue the area is ill-suited to the task.

       Rights advocates have also hit out at the policy, saying the barge is unfit for the purpose, with protesters from either side showing up at the waterfront site in recent weeks.

       Article continues after ad

       Amnesty slams move as shameful for people who’ve fled terror, conflict and persecution

       Steve Valdez-Symonds of Amnesty International UK branded the barge “a shameful way to house people who’ve fled terror, conflict and persecution”.

       It was previously used by Germany and the Netherlands to house homeless people and asylum-seekers, but opponents in Britain have noted it was previously described as an “oppressive environment”.

       A number of migrants did not board the barge after legal moves.

       “None of the asylum-seekers we are supporting have gone to the Bibby Stockholm today,” said Steve Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Care4Calais, adding that they had suffered torture, modern slavery and had traumatic experiences at sea.

       Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2023