Trainer waits to evacuate people from Bibby Stockholm after finding bacteria. Photo: BNPS
Tim Lawton, a former minister and member of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: “This is deeply disturbing and is rapidly becoming a farce that the Home Office cannot afford.”
“Given the importance of the project, it was important that every risk assessment be done before people were put on the barge. Given the delays, there are serious questions about why they weren't met, and what compensation the contractors or whoever is responsible for putting the property into operation has.
This is the latest embarrassment for the department. this was called “impractical” by Lord Reid when he was Home Secretary in 2006, and could renew calls for it to be split.
Following the Home Office's previous mistakes, the argument was raised that the Home Office was responsible for too much important policy areas, including crime, migration and terrorism.
The evacuation comes just a day after it was revealed that the number of migrants crossing the English Channel has surpassed 100,000 since 2018. On Thursday, 14 small boats landed 755 days, bringing the total number of people crossing the English Channel this year to 15,826.
small boats
It is understood that the barge contractor was informed of initial results indicating that Legionella was present on the Bibby Stockholm on Monday.
On Wednesday evening, the Dorset Council, in charge of environmental health, then informed Home Office officials. about the opening. However, six more migrants were loaded onto the barge on Thursday.
It was not until Thursday evening that the UK Health Security Agency informed ministers that legionella had been found in Bibby Stockholm's water supply and advised them to remove the six migrants due to detection.
It really is. realized that Home Secretary Swella Braverman and Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick had first heard about it.
The Home Office then decided to evacuate all 39 asylum seekers as a “further temporary precaution.” It is understood that they were moved to hotels about two hours from Portland. Interior ministers are believed to be disappointed at being left in the dark about the reopening for four days.
Migrant Council coach after being removed from the Bibby Stockholm. Photo: Graham Hunt/BNPS.
Industry sources said it would take several weeks to flush all the pipes on the barge and then conduct new legionella tests.
The first batch of water tests took 13 days, from sampling on July 25 to reporting results to Landry & Kling, the contractor, reported on Monday this week that Legionella had been found.
Legionella, commonly found in water, can cause a serious form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease, which is fatal in up to 10 people. percent of cases.
The Ministry of the Interior said that no migrant became ill or contracted Legionnaires' disease. The asylum seekers were evacuated by 19:00 on Friday.
Legionella can cause serious illness in people over 50, smokers and people with underlying health conditions. Bacteria thrive when water temperatures are between 25°C and 50°C, and when there is poor or no flow to the water supply.
Ministers expect Bibby Stockholm to eventually be able to accommodate 500 migrants, but refurbishment will take longer than expected. , bad weather and security checks have already delayed the first arrivals by a month.
This is one of three mass accommodation sites designed to cut £6m a day to accommodate 51,000 migrants in hotels. The other two are former RAF bases.
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