Following the suspected suicide of a person seeking asylum on the Bibby Stockholm on Tuesday, we are calling for the immediate closure of the barge (Growing despair of asylum seekers on Bibby Stockholm over living conditions, 13 December).
For those on board, the Bibby Stockholm feels like a prison. It is cramped, restrictive and segregated. The barge is no place to accommodate people who have fled violence, persecution and torture, many of whom are traumatised and isolated. They are unable to get the help and specialist support they need. Their mental health has deteriorated and some have felt suicidal.
While people on board pay an appalling price, the government is paying £22.5m to operate the barge. These funds should be spent on providing people seeking asylum with safe housing in the community.
It is also vital that the government launches an independent inquiry into the death so that lessons are learned and those responsible are held accountable.
This country must never again house those who come to our shores seeking safety in such an inappropriate and inhumane place.
Nicola David One Life to Live, Enver Solomon Chief executive, Refugee Council, Tim Naor Hilton Refugee Action, Sabir Zazai CEO, Scottish Refugee Council, Bridget Young NACCOM – The No Accommodation Network, Aria Danaparamita Advocacy director, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Nadia Whittome MP, Kim Johnson MP, Olivia Blake MP and 59 others
