A berthed vessel will, for the first time, accommodate asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, the Home Office has announced. This arrangement, according to authorities, will reduce expenses on hotel accommodation.
Some data put current hotel accommodation for asylum seekers costing about £6 million a day. The government feels that the accommodation barge in Portland Port, Dorset, will deliver orderly, cost-effective, and sustainable asylum accommodation system.
This move comes alongside the return of the Illegal Migration Bill, which is intended to stop illegal Channel crossings. It is designed to end unlawful entry to the UK. Thus, persons entering its shores illegally or without any valid documents will be detained, and then removed.
The Home Office expects to “reduce the unsustainable pressure” on the UK’s asylum system and cut the cost to the taxpayer caused by the increase in Channel crossings lately.
The decision is being considered an important step in setting the Prime Minister and Home Secretary’s priority to stop illegal crossings. Last week, the government announced that surplus military sites will also be used to accommodate migrants who have entered the UK illegally on small boats.
The barge which will house such migrants is called the Bibby Stockholm. It will be berthed in Portland Port and will accommodate about 500 single adult males whilst their asylum claims are processed. It will provide basic and functional accommodation, healthcare provision, catering facilities and 24/7 security on board, to minimise the disruption to local communities.
People whose claims are refused and have exhausted their appeal rights will be removed from the UK, said reports.
