A bus destined for the Bibby Stockholm barge has been blocked by protesters as tyres were slashed and a bike was thrown beneath the vehicle in chaotic scenes with officers injured and 45 people arrested.
Images from Peckham in south London show a crowd of people standing around the coach after it was prevented from setting off to the barge in Dorset. A police officer was seen inspecting the wheels after they were reportedly slashed by demonstrators.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan has now said that "a number of officers" have been injured while 45 arrests have been made. A group of protesters surrounded the coach shortly after it turned up Best Western hotel at 8am with eight migrants having been told they would be collected and taken to the barge in Portland, which is being used to process asylum seekers.
But they are now expected to remain at the hotel in Peckham for the time being, along with a team of staff. Responding to the protests, a spokesperson to the Home Office told the Mirror: “This behaviour is intimidatory and aggressive. As part of our commitment to significantly reducing the use of hotels, asylum seekers are being moved into alternative accommodation to reduce costs on the taxpayer. We have returned 150 hotels to local communities and we work closely with accommodation providers to manage the exit process in a way which limits the impact on local authorities and asylum seeker.”
A bus destined for the Bibby Stockholm has been stopped by protesters in Peckham (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)Mr Adelekan said: “It saddens me greatly to say that a number of officers have been assaulted in the course of their duty following an incident in Peckham today where they sought to uphold the law. Police were called at around 08:40hrs to reports of a group of protesters near a hotel in Peckham Road SE15.
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“It was reported that a coach due to transport people to a location in Dorset had been prevented from leaving by a group of people who stood around it and obstructed it with bicycles. We were not made aware of this operation before hand. The coach’s tyres were also reportedly deflated to prevent it from leaving.
Police surrounded the vehicle as the protest grew (AFP via Getty Images)“My officers were quickly on scene and spoke to the coach driver, and especially protesters at length. They were warned that they could be arrested. After this demonstrators blocked the road and continued to prevent the coach, and police vehicles, from leaving. More officers were sent to the scene to safely remove people from the road, allow the vehicles to leave and for the road to re-open.
“A number of officers have reported being assaulted. Thankfully I’m glad that none of those are seriously hurt. A total of 45 people have been arrested and taken into police custody for offences including obstruction of the highway, obstructing police and assault on police. A full breakdown will follow later.
"There was one arrest for a racially aggravated public order offence. They were not part of the protest group. As I said earlier, we will always respect the right to peaceful protest, but when officers are assaulted and obstructed from their duty then we can and will take decisive action. My officers have now left the scene and the road has re-opened.”
Several posts on X (formerly Twitter) suggested the demonstrations had been organised by local activist groups, as people were urged to also protest at a list of hotels in London where it is claimed migrants would be picked up on the way to the barge. Speaking to cameras at the scene in Peckham, one of the coordinators said: "We will stay here until we are sure our friends are safe". Police have told the crowd that they will be forced to disperse under necessary legislation if they do not move."
A police officer inspected the coach (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)The Deputy Assistant Commissioner earlier said: "My officers were quickly on scene and have engaged with the protesters at length. They have warned the group that they could be arrested. We will share more information when we can."
Last week, the sister of a man who took his own life after being moved to the asylum mega-barge said the Government should be held responsible. A report by charities into conditions onboard the Bibby Stockholm described the vessel as a "quasi-prison" and demanded it is closed. A former cleaner on the barge claimed she lost her job for being "too friendly" with people held there.
The tyres appear to have been slashed by protesters (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP)The study was carried out following the death of Albanian asylum seeker Leonard Farruku aged 27 in December. His sister, Jola Dushku, said: "We never ever will have peace in our minds until the moment we find the truth about the circumstances inside that barge that contributed for our brother to commit suicide. We feel the UK Government should be held responsible for Leonard's death." The latest protests come as 711 people were recorded crossing the English Channel on Wednesday, the highest number on a single day so far this year.
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