Protesters block and SLASH tyres of coach taking illegal migrants from London hotel to Bibby Stockholm barge
MASKED protesters have slashed the tyres of a coach transporting illegal migrants from a hotel to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Demonstrators surrounded the coach shortly after it arrived at the Best Western hotel in Peckham, south east London, at 8am.
The bus has been sent to take eight migrants staying at the hotel to the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset.
But the group of at least a dozen protesters have prevented anyone from being taken on board.
The migrants were reportedly told they would be collected from the hotel in this morning and transported to the barge.
Instead, the they are understood to remain stuck at the hotel along with Home Office staff.
The coach’s tyres have been deflated, while the group also appear to be using Lime bikes to prevent the bus from moving.
It comes as more than 700 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats yesterday making it the busiest day for arrivals so far this year.
Official Home Office figures show 711 people made the dangerous journey in 14 boats on the day the first detentions were made for those set to be flown to Rwanda.
Crossings are already at a record high for the start of the year with yesterday’s numbers taking the total to 8278.
Detentions are continuing this week with people held as they turn up to routine immigration appointments or in raids at their accommodation.
The Home Office has refused to reveal exactly how many have been detained so far but said the cohort included both men and women.
Hundreds of migrants have been moved to the Bibby Stockholm while their asylum claims are processed since it was opened in August.
Asylum seekers have previously been told they face being made homeless if they refuse to move out of taxpayer-funded hotels and onto the vessel.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Accommodation is allocated to asylum seekers on a no-choice basis and asylum seekers can make representations if they believe they are unsuitable to be moved to the Bibby Stockholm.
“These are considered in full before any decision is made.
“We continue to deliver our plans to significantly reduce the use of asylum hotels, closing 150 by beginning of May, and work closely with accommodation providers to manage the exit process in a way which limits the impact on local authorities and asylum seekers alike.”
