Ministers are planning to send the first 50 people to a controversial barge used for housing asylum seekers next Tuesday, but there have been fresh calls for a delay over safety concerns.
The government has already been forced to push back the planned start date for commencing operations on the Bibby Stockholm, which ministers hope will reduce the costs of accommodating those who cross the Channel on small boats.
Initially, the Home Office sought for the first group to arrive at the 500-capacity barge in Dorset on Thursday, but that has now been pushed back to next Tuesday.
Chris Loder, the Conservative MP for West Dorset, said he had repeatedly pressed the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, and the Maritime Coastguard Agency for a risk assessment – but none had been provided.
Further concerns over safety have been raised. Notes seen by the Guardian of a visit to the barge by a group of councillors stated there was a lack of lifejackets on board.
Repair work on the Bibby Stockholm was carried out in Falmouth after parts of the hull were found to be rotten, according to the Financial Times.
Nicola David, of the One Life to Live campaign, also wrote to the station manager at Portland fire station on 24 July about fire safety on board, due to the narrow corridors and the fact that two asylum seekers will be living in cabins previously used for one person.
She asked whether Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue authority had inspected the barge and completed a full fire risk assessment to its satisfaction, but received no response.
“It’s very difficult to see how a barge designed for 222 people can be expected to take the demands of 506, with equivalent increases in furnishings and staff,” she said.
“There seems to be considerable confusion as to whether the terrestrial fire service or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have responsibility here, given that the barge is on water but permanently berthed, and the compound, where people would presumably congregate in an evacuation, is on land.
“I am deeply concerned about many aspects of safety on board. I haven’t heard any assurances to anyone the Bibby Stockholm has passed any fire risk assessment. I would urge the Home Office to delay the arrival of any asylum seekers until the public can be assured of every aspect of safety on board.”
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service said they had “conducted visits to review fire safety arrangements on the Bibby Stockholm” and were continuing to liaise with other authorities “to ensure that appropriate fire safety measures under relevant legislation are in place”.
A Home Office spokesperson also said that the Bibby Stockholm had “completed a statutory inspection and refurbishment and is now berthing in Portland”. They added: “The welfare of those in our care is of the utmost priority and the barge is now undergoing final preparations to ensure it complies with all appropriate regulations before the arrival of the first asylum seekers in the coming weeks.”
Home Office sources said that now the vessel is berthed, agencies, including Dorset council, Dorset police and Dorset fire and rescue, would ensure the vessel complies with various regulations – including that in the event of a fire, those on board can be safely evacuated. The sources added that before leaving Falmouth, the vessel was inspected and certificated by Lloyd’s Register.
The Health and Safety Executive said that Dorset council was responsible for the barge and it was responsible for the surrounding quayside.
A HSE spokesperson said: “Our inspectors conducted a planned visit of Portland port this week alongside Dorset council’s environmental health team. We provided advice on construction safety, which has since been acted upon. Our concerns have now been addressed.”
Meanwhile, Labour said that people-smuggling gangs had been “given a free pass” by ministers.
The party cited analysis of data showing 253 people were convicted of people-smuggling last year, compared with 398 in 2010 – a fall of about 36%. The number of cases being prosecuted was also said to have reduced by a quarter over the same period, with successful convictions down 12%.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, pledged that a Labour government would fund a specialist new cross-border people-smuggling unit in the National Crime Agency. She pointed to a recent report that suggested 75% of Channel crossing gangs were based in the UK, but that the NCA managed fewer than 20 “disruptions” a month.
“Labour will redirect money being spent on the Tories’ failing Rwanda scheme to relentlessly target these criminal smuggling gangs,” said Cooper, adding that the new cross-border police unit would “have a singular focus on cracking down on people-smuggling and organised immigration crime”.
