Protesters in Peckham, London, blocked a coach set to transport asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge, an event that saw police involvement and several arrests. The demonstration took place near the Best Western Hotel, with activists chanting slogans such as “refugees are welcome here” and “no borders, no nations, stop deportations” while obstructing the coach’s path.

This protest follows a similar action in Margate, Kent, wherein the local community expressed strong support for asylum seekers slated for relocation to the same barge, leading to the Home Office abandoning these relocation plans.

The demonstration in Peckham escalated to arrests for offences including obstruction of the highway and racially aggravated public order. Throughout the protest, there was a clear emphasis on the perceived injustices in the government’s migration policies, with accusations that these policies were both “desperate” and “probably unlawful.”

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan pointed out the balance between respecting peaceful protests and addressing criminality and serious disruptions.

Home Secretary James Cleverly responded by defending the government’s approach, citing the financial burden of accommodating migrants in hotels and asserting the government’s determination to proceed with its planned policies despite opposition.

The events highlight ongoing tensions and debates surrounding the UK’s asylum seeker policies and their implementation.