Police report death of asylum seeker on UK accommodation barge

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Several charities criticized the UK government after an asylum seeker died onboard the controversial Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge docked on the southwest English coast. Dorset Police reported a “sudden death of a resident on the Bibby Stockholm,” while the Home Office acknowledged the incident. A coordinator of the Portland Global Friendship Group support service stated that people on the barge had informed her that the person took his own life. Interior minister James Cleverly told parliament that he was “uncomfortable getting into any more details” but that “we will of course investigate fully.” The first migrants to be housed at the site arrived in early August, but had to leave following the discovery of Legionella bacteria. They returned in October to the barge, which can house 500 people, but rights advocates have criticized the policy, saying the vessel is unfit for the purpose. Steve Smith, chief executive of Care4Calais, said the UK government “must take responsibility for this human tragedy” and called for an end to the trauma inflicted on asylum seekers. Britain is currently seeing record numbers of migrants arriving by boats from France on its southern coast, with almost 30,000 people having arrived so far this year.

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