Allegations of appalling conditions and racist remarks have surfaced from former staff and residents of the Bibby Stockholm barge, which houses asylum seekers off the Dorset coast. In a disturbing incident, a former cleaner claims to have overheard staff making light of the death of an Albanian asylum seeker, Leonard Farruku, saying, ‘Oh that is one less Muslim mouth to feed.’ This incident reportedly occurred within a week of Farruku’s death in December, which is believed to have been a suicide.
The ex-employee, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that the atmosphere among the workers was ‘disgusting’ and that many held prejudiced views against the asylum seekers. She also raised concerns about the lack of support and compassion towards the residents, who were reportedly treated like prisoners and denied basic freedoms.
In her testimony, the former cleaner described an incident where she received a verbal warning for being friendly with the residents during their break. She expressed her belief that her subsequent lack of work was retaliation for speaking out against the mistreatment of the asylum seekers.
Other former residents have provided accounts of the oppressive conditions on the barge, including a sense of paranoia and feelings of being treated like ‘zoo animals.’ One resident, identified as ‘A,’ stated that there was no privacy and that overcrowding led to a lack of space and comfort.
Another former resident, ‘S,’ recounted being scanned like airport security when entering and leaving the barge, which discouraged them from venturing outside. They also reported being told to ‘keep their mouth shut’ by security staff when expressing concerns about the food.
The revelations have prompted calls from the report’s authors for the immediate closure of the Bibby Stockholm and an investment in asylum claim decision-makers. The report highlights the need for humane and compassionate treatment of asylum seekers, who have often endured trauma and persecution in their home countries.
In response to the allegations, a Home Office spokesperson denied the claims made in the report, stating that there are rigorous safeguarding processes in place on the barge and that residents have access to health and social care services, including mental health support. However, the Home Office has acknowledged the need to reduce the use of expensive hotels and explore alternative accommodation options for asylum seekers.
