Protesters block coach over asylum seeker transfer

Protesters are being pulled away from a coach in south London after they surrounded it over concerns that asylum seekers are being transferred to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.

The police were called at about 08:40 BST to reports of protesters near a hotel in Peckham.

The Met said the coach was being obstructed by people and bicycles.

A Home Office spokesperson described the protesters' behaviour as "intimidatory and aggressive".

They said: "As part of our commitment to significantly reducing the use of hotels, asylum seekers are being moved into alternative accommodation to reduce costs on the taxpayer. Accommodation is allocated to asylum seekers on a no-choice basis."

The spokesperson said: "Asylum seekers can make representations if they believe they are unsuitable to be moved to the Bibby Stockholm. These are considered in full before any decision is made."

Protesters were seen being pulled away from the coach, with one woman put into a police van. Three police riot vans were seen parked further down the road.

Many of the protesters are now sitting in the road, chanting.

They say that Bibby Stockholm is not a suitable place to house asylum seekers, and those due to be taken there have built relations in the community in Peckham and do not want to be moved.

The Home Office abandoned plans to move a group of asylum seekers to the Bibby barge in the wake of protests in Margate last week.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said in a post on X: "Housing migrants in hotels costs the British taxpayer millions of pounds every day.

"We will not allow this small group of students, posing for social media, to deter us from doing what is right for the British public."

A crowd of about 150 people remain at the scene, with chants of "We shall not be moved" ringing out.

The coach they surrounded when it arrived at about 08:00 has remained stationary and empty of its intended passengers.

"This is what community looks like," and "No borders, no nations, stop deportations," are other chants being made by about 50 protesters sitting on the road at the front of the coach.

At the back of the vehicle another similar-sized group is chanting along to the beat of a drum, "There are many, many more of us than you."

Eight police vehicles are parked up, many with their lights flashing, and about 30 officers are standing at the front of the coach and flanking its sides.

The road is closed to traffic in both directions.

Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said in the social media post: "My officers were quickly on scene and have engaged with the protesters at length.

"They have warned the group that they could be arrested."

The Home Office said it was planning to close 150 asylum seeker hotels by the beginning of May.

A spokesperson said they were working "closely with accommodation providers to manage the exit process in a way which limits the impact on local authorities and asylum seekers alike".

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