An In-depth Look at the Use of Barges to Accommodate Asylum Seekers in the UK
The History of Using Ships for Temporary Accommodation
Throughout history, ships have been utilized for various purposes, including providing temporary accommodation. Reform schools for juveniles, hospitals for the quarantine of the sick, and even prisons have been housed on boats. This is not a new concept. Therefore, it is not entirely surprising that the Home Office has decided to utilize the Bibby Stockholm, and soon other boats, to house “non-detained” asylum seekers.
In 1776, the first prison hulk, the Justitia, was moored at Woolwich. Local residents expressed fear that escaped convicts posed a threat to the community. Fast forward to modern times, during the recent protests against the Bibby Stockholm, residents of Portland raised similar concerns. They argue that the city does not have the proper infrastructure to support the plan and that the streets will not be safe if asylum seekers are housed there. Additionally, there are concerns that tourism will suffer, as cruise ships scheduled to visit the Jurassic Coast are already starting to bypass the port due to the disruption.
Some people also oppose the policy on humanitarian grounds, as many of the asylum seekers have fled war and persecution. The arrival of detainees is likely to be staggered, which could lead to protests and a volatile environment. These concerns echo the sentiments expressed by the public in the 19th century, as they initially turned a blind eye to prison hulks but eventually changed their opinion.
During the Victorian era, press coverage played a significant role in shaping public opinion. Newspapers, pamphlets, and periodicals circulated widely, and literacy rates increased. The media coverage of prison hulks led people to view convicts not as dangerous individuals, but rather as victims failed by the state. Similarly, today’s campaigners argue that housing asylum seekers on barges will not solve the issue of relying on hotels and that the financial savings will be negligible.
Comparing the Historical Context
The use of prison hulks in the 19th century was a response to overcrowding in prisons, with convicts being sent to New South Wales and Tasmania. Similarly, the decision to accommodate asylum seekers on barges can be seen as a result of the current situation where housing resources are strained. The British government is facing challenges in providing suitable accommodation for asylum seekers, and utilizing boats may seem like a viable solution.
However, what sets the current situation apart from the past is the speed at which public opinion has turned against the use of ships for temporary accommodation. In the 19th century, it took a significant amount of time for the sentiment to shift. But today, due to increased media coverage and wider accessibility to information, public opinions can change rapidly. The criticisms and protests against the Bibby Stockholm highlight the evolving attitudes towards the treatment of asylum seekers and the importance of considering humanitarian concerns.
The Challenges of Implementing the Barge Accommodation Policy
Implementing the policy to accommodate asylum seekers on barges poses several challenges. One of the main concerns raised by opponents is the lack of proper infrastructure to support such a plan. The city of Portland, where the Bibby Stockholm is scheduled to be moored, may not have the necessary facilities to ensure the safety, well-being, and integration of the asylum seekers into the community.
Moreover, there are worries about the potential impact on tourism. The disruption caused by the presence of the barge and the negative publicity surrounding it may lead to cruise ships bypassing the port, affecting the local economy. This dilemma emphasizes the need for careful consideration of the economic implications of such policies.
Another challenge is the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness of using boats as a solution. Critics argue that it does not address the root causes of the issue and fails to provide a long-term solution. They believe that instead of investing in temporary measures, the government should focus on improving the asylum process, enhancing support services, and facilitating successful integration into society.
Unique Insights: Learning from Historical Lessons
While the use of prison hulks in the 19th century may appear to be a distant historical event, there are valuable lessons to be learned from that era. One crucial aspect worth considering is the role of public opinion and media coverage in shaping policies and driving change.
The increased scrutiny and transparency provided by today’s media landscape means that decisions regarding the treatment of asylum seekers cannot be made without considering the potential impact on public perception. As demonstrated by the protests against the Bibby Stockholm, public opinion can have a significant influence on the success or failure of a policy.
Furthermore, it is essential to recognize the evolving societal values and humanitarian concerns surrounding the treatment of vulnerable individuals. The public’s empathy towards asylum seekers has grown, reflecting a broader awareness of the global challenges faced by displaced populations.
To address these concerns, policymakers need to take a comprehensive and sustainable approach. This entails not only providing temporary accommodation but also investing in support services, improving the asylum process, and fostering integration. It requires an understanding of the complex factors contributing to displacement and implementing policies that address the root causes.
Summary
In recent times, the British government’s decision to accommodate asylum seekers on barges has ignited protests and public criticism. Drawing historical comparisons to the use of prison hulks in the 19th century, opponents argue that this approach is not suitable or humane. Concerns over infrastructure, safety, and the impact on tourism have been raised, prompting a debate on the effectiveness and sustainability of such policies.
Looking beyond the immediate challenges, it is crucial to draw insights from history and consider the evolving socio-political landscape. Public opinion and media coverage play a significant role in shaping policies, emphasizing the need for transparency and empathy towards vulnerable individuals. To address the complex issue of displacement, comprehensive and sustainable solutions must be pursued, which encompass not just temporary accommodation but also support services, improvements in the asylum process, and integration into society.
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The writer is a historian from the University of Liverpool.
In the coming weeks, the British government will accommodate asylum seekers aboard a barge in Portland, Dorset. This plan was formally announced in April, but the barge has yet to arrive, delayed by protests and mounting public criticism.
Britain has seen this before: it is impossible to look at the policy Without drawing historical comparisons to prison hulks, 19th century floating prisons were etched into public memory thanks to film adaptations of High expectations. What is different today is that we no longer hold to the Victorian values that stood for that system. Back then, it took much longer for public opinion to turn against these sites.
There are striking parallels between those days and now. Prison helmets were introduced as emergency measures in 1776, a year after the American Revolutionary War began. Since they were no longer sent to the American colonies, the number of convicts threatened to overwhelm the prisons. Hulks became the linchpin supporting the government’s deportation policy to New South Wales and Tasmania.
Of course, ships have always been used to provide temporary accommodation, such as reform schools for juveniles or hospitals for the quarantine of the sick. As such, it is perhaps not surprising that the Home Office has decided to use the Bibby Stockholm in Dorset, and soon other boats, to house “non-detained” asylum seekers.
In 1776, when the prison’s first hulk, the Justitia, was moored at Woolwich, local residents expressed fear that escaped convicts posed a threat to the community. During the last protests against the bibby stockholm, Portlanders expressed similar concerns that the city does not have the proper infrastructure to support the plan, that the streets will not be safe, and that tourism will suffer. Cruise ships scheduled to visit the Jurassic Coast are already starting to bypass the port due to the disruption.
Others oppose the policy on humanitarian grounds, since the ship must house asylum seekers — many of whom have fled war and persecution. The detainees will probably arrive in small staggered groups: imagine receiving protests, shouts and banners.
In the 19th century, ordinary people initially turned a blind eye to helmets: they were mired in their own problems, as wars with the United States and France had caused a recession and poverty was widespread. But public opinion underwent a shift thanks to the boom in Victorian-era press coverage. Newspapers, pamphlets, and periodicals circulated, and literacy rates increased. Rich and poor alike read about helmets. Opinion began to change. People stopped thinking of convicts as dangerous; instead, they began to view them as having been let down by the state.
Prison inspectors published reports outlining the cost of maintaining the rotting and leaking wooden boats, noting that it was significantly more expensive to continually repair and modify them than to build permanent prisons on land. Today, campaigners argue that plans to put asylum seekers in the Bibby Stockholm will not end the use of hotels and that the savings will be trivial.
No doubt the change in public opinion in the mid-19th century contributed to the demise of the Hulk system in England. It took longer to end up in the colonies, including Bermuda and Gibraltar, where media coverage was less outspoken and the ships withdrew from the public eye. The Hulks have not been entirely relegated to history. HMP Weare, a prison ship that was in use in Portland Harbor from 1997 to 2005, was the subject of political controversy as she was unpopular and expensive to operate.
Today, it seems that support for immigrant barges is already beginning to falter. While the Home Office may choose to ignore historical parallels, the public does not. It may only be a matter of time before the policy goes under.
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