Bibby Stockholm: Calls for migrants to be removed after death

Campaigners say the death of an asylum seeker on the Bibby Stockholm is "not a surprise" and are calling for all migrants on board to be taken off.

The BBC understands the man took his own life on the barge in Dorset where hundreds of men are housed.

Some people in Portland say there are already too many people "crammed" on the vessel, with more due to arrive, and the environment is causing stress.

The Home Office said the welfare of the men was "of the utmost importance".

Portland town councillor Giovanna Lewis said: "We were told at the beginning that the men would be assessed for their suitability because there is no doubt this is a challenging way to live.

"My understanding was that people were selected - the more resilient people - but that's clearly not happening."

Resident Simon Pugh-Jones said: "When you have this many people crammed into a space that isn't big enough... the stresses that people are going to be under are likely to lead to tragedy."

Caz Dennett, also from Portland, said: "There are now 320 men crammed in there - this was not a surprise."

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said he blamed "illegal traffickers" for the death.

"It is they [the traffickers] who are taking people from safety, mainly in France, putting them in extremely dangerous small boats and bringing them to a country where they have no connections and, ultimately, no doubt some of them feel lost and alone...," he said

But Portland Global Friendship Group, a team of volunteers who support the men on board, posted on Facebook: "But Mr Drax, most of the Bibby residents arrived here by plane (not in dangerous small boats run by illegal traffickers) and many have friends and/or family here - do you not know?"

When asked about the MP's comments on BBC Radio Solent, Portland mayor Carralyn Parkes said: "If you are putting people in places like the Bibby Stockholm, which is wholly unsuitable for housing people on a long-term basis, some of the responsibility obviously does lie with the government.

"If you can shake your magic money tree and produce millions of pounds for a monstrosity like Bibby Stockholm, you can shake your magic money tree and use that money to invest in the asylum and immigration system... so people don't have to wait for 18 months or more to have their asylum decisions made."

The Home Office said the death on Tuesday would be investigated by the police and coroner.

A statement said: "This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with everyone affected.

"The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance, and we take our responsibility for their wellbeing incredibly seriously."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said men on the barge were assessed for signs of emotional trauma, and continued to have support available to them.

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