45 Arrested in Peckham AmidProtests Against Asylum Seeker Deportations

On Thursday, 45 protesters were arrested in Peckham, south-east London, after obstructing a coach carrying asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge. The coach was blocked by dozens of protesters, who surrounded the vehicle outside the Best Western hotel in Peckham Road around 8:40 am. The protesters, wearing face coverings, chanted "no borders, no nations, stop deportations" and linked arms to prevent the coach from moving.

Why this matters: The controversy surrounding the Bibby Stockholm barge and the government's deportation plans highlights the ongoing debate about the UK's asylum seeker policies and their human impact. As the government continues to push forward with itsRwanda plan, protests like this one will likely continue to escalate, putting pressure on policymakers to reevaluate their approach to asylum seekers.

Police arrived at the scene around lunchtime, and after a surge of officers, the protesters were removed from around the coach. However, they then blocked the road, leading to several arrests. Video footage showed an apparently peaceful protest, but by the afternoon, crowds were seated on the ground around the coach, and dozens of police officers were at the scene, linking arms to form a barrier around the vehicle. Protesters chanted "shame on you" at the officers as they scuffled and told protesters to step back.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: "It saddens me greatly to say that a number of officers have been assaulted in the course of their duty following an incident in Peckham today where they sought to uphold the law." Home Secretary James Cleverly described the protesters as "a small group of students posing for social media."

Of the 45 protesters arrested, three have been charged. One additional arrest was made for a racially aggravated public order offence by someone not part of the protest group. By 4:30 pm, the area was cleared and the empty coach moved on. The incident comes after the Home Office scrapped plans last week to move a group of asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge following protests in Margate.

The Bibby Stockholm barge began housing asylum seekers in August 2023 but has been surrounded in controversy regarding its safety, including a legionella scare days after its opening, followed by a death on board in December 2023. Amnesty International UK has said that the barge was "an utterly shameful way to house people who have fled terror, conflict and persecution."

The protest in Peckham comes at a time when immigration is a particularly controversial topic in British politics. Last week, after several legal challenges, the government passed their Rwanda plan through Parliament, meaning asylum seekers can be sent to the African nation whilst having their asylum claims considered. The arrests on Thursday included three individuals charged with obstruction of the highway: Callum Goode, 24, of Ashbourne, Derbyshire; Jony Cink, 24, of Southwark; and Indea Barbe-Wilson, 31, of Lewisham.

Key Takeaways

• 45 protesters arrested in Peckham for blocking a coach carrying asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
• Protesters chanted "no borders, no nations, stop deportations" and linked arms to prevent the coach from moving.
• Three protesters charged with obstruction of the highway, with 42 others released under investigation.
• The Bibby Stockholm barge has been surrounded by controversy over safety concerns and its use to house asylum seekers.
• The protest comes amid ongoing debate over the UK's asylum seeker policies, including the government's Rwanda plan.