Government’s ‘small boats week’ starts today, but what does that mean?

The government’s ‘small boats week’ starts today, but what does that mean?

What is happening this week?

As per one of Rishi Sunak’s five pledges – ‘Stop the Boats’ – measures intended to deter migrants from making the journey across to the UK are being put in place starting this week. Suella Braverman told the Mail on Sunday, “I want to stop the boats – it’s our promise and I know it’s absolutely critical. I know it’s what the British people really want us to do. They’re on our side,”.

As of this morning, the first group of asylum seekers has boarded the Bibby Stockholm – the barge off Dorset – with more arrivals expected throughout the day.

Big Help’s CEO, Peter Mitchell, stated earlier this year that “refugees fleeing their home countries are not afforded the privilege of choice, and it is the responsibility of policymakers to ensure safe routes are enabled to prevent any further loss of life or a completely unsupported life in a third country.”.

What are the safety concerns?

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) wrote to the Home Office just days ago accusing ministers of aiming to house asylum seekers on a ‘potential deathtrap’, citing overcrowding and a lack of access to fire exits as health and safety concerns. The 222-bedroom vessel is expected to house over 500 male asylum seekers, the first 50 of which are expected as soon as today.

The chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dame Jenny Harries, said that “generally respiratory infections…are at higher risk in confined settings with poorer ventilation” and “expect UKHSA to visit the barge to ‘check infection prevention control’” once the first migrants have been moved in.

Councillors who visited the barge last week have also noted safety concerns having been told that there ‘are no lifejackets onboard’, as well as expressing concerns about locked gates which could pose a safety issue despite the Prime Minister stating that “all migrant accommodation has to go through a series of checks and inspections to make sure it complies with the regulation.”.

What measures are in place for businesses?

As a means to deter employers and landlords from aiding migrants, allowing them to work for them or live on a property that they own whilst arriving in an ‘irregular’ route, the Government has ensured civil penalties for employers that will increase up to a maximum of £45,000 per worker for a first breach and £60,000 for repeat offenders.

As for landlords, fines range from £1,000 per occupier to £10,000, with repeat breaches ranging from £3-20,000.

Updates are as follows:

09/08/2023

Despite plans to move 50 asylum seekers onto the Bibby Stockholm on Monday, people seeking refuge who were ordered to live on the barge have been reprieved after legal issues claimed that the vessel was unsafe. Lawyers have stated they they are intervening to stop the transfer of more migrants onto the barge after only 15 were moved in on the first day of the Government’s ‘small boats week’.

11/08/2023

Today, the asylum seekers that had been moved on to the Bibby Stockholm so far have been ‘temporarily removed’ as a result of traces of Legionella bacteria being found in the on-board water system.

39 people were aboard the barge, and none so far have shown symptoms of Legionnaires disease.

Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/01/bibby-stockholm-asylum-barge-is-potential-deathtrap-say-firefighters https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66424923