31 Jan Bibby Stockholm Departs: A Victory for Asylum Seekers and Communities

On behalf of our clients, we welcome the long-overdue departure of the Bibby Stockholm from Portland Harbour, Dorset. For nearly 18 months, the barge served as asylum accommodation under a deeply flawed Home Office plan—one that was unsafe, inhumane, and doomed from the start.

From its first days of operation, the Bibby Stockholm was a failure. Legionella bacteria was discovered in the water supply, forcing its closure after just a few days. The cramped, prison-like conditions were wholly unsuitable for people fleeing war, persecution, and trauma. Tragically, one man lost his life by suicide while living onboard.

The barge’s arrival also caused distress within the local community. Residents were given no say in the decision to moor it in their harbour and feared they lacked the resources to support those placed onboard. Their concerns were seized upon and amplified by far-right groups across the UK, fuelling hostility and fear. Meanwhile, the government’s claims that the Bibby Stockholm was a cost-effective solution proved hollow—taxpayers were left footing a bill of at least £34.8 million for this disastrous scheme.

Our Legal Challenge

DPG has been at the forefront of opposition to the Bibby Stockholm. We represented numerous clients who faced transfer to the barge, many of whom had ongoing medical treatments or critical support networks that would have been severed. The Home Office failed to conduct adequate screening, meaning that victims of torture, trafficking, and serious mental or physical health conditions were wrongly sent there. We were the first law firm to challenge this in the courts, issuing a judicial review against the Home Office’s decision to transfer our vulnerable clients there.

We also represented Ms. Carralyn Parkes, a local resident who pursued a crowd-funded judicial review against Dorset Council for failing to exercise planning control over the barge. The Home Office and the Council argued that, because it was on water rather than land, planning laws did not apply. While the challenge was ultimately unsuccessful, it confirmed that the Council did have the power to oversee key aspects of the operation, exposing the legal loopholes used to justify this harmful policy.

The Fight Continues

The departure of the Bibby Stockholm is a victory—but the fight is far from over. Other harmful asylum sites, including ex-military bases at Wethersfield and Napier, as well as the widespread use of temporary accommodation and hotels, continue to cause misery and uncertainty for those seeking safety in the UK. Alongside our clients, we remain committed to challenging these policies and advocating for dignified, humane asylum accommodation.

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