In early June, reports in the Guardian suggested that the Government is considering plans to use a barge to accommodate people seeking asylum on the Tyne.
In response, people across Tyneside, including local refugee organisations, councillors and residents, have signed a joint public letter to the Port of Tyne calling on them to take no part in any plans to create a floating prison on the Tyne. The full text of the letter and list of signatories is below.
For the attention of Matt Beeton, CEO and Lucy Armstrong, Chair, Port of Tyne
Dear Mr Beeton and Ms Armstrong,
We are writing following recent reports that the Home Office is considering using a barge to accommodate people seeking asylum on the Tyne. We urge the Port of Tyne not to take any part in plans to create a floating prison on the Tyne.
It is imperative that no deal is done to place people seeking asylum in any facility on the Tyne. People seeking asylum should be able to live as members of our communities while they wait for a decision on their asylum claim, not warehoused in barges or ships.
Placing hundreds or thousands of people in a vessel would cause significant harm to people fleeing war and persecution. Many people may have been forced to make traumatic journeys over sea, and using ships or barges as accommodation risks retraumatising vulnerable people. The use of similar facilities in other countries have resulted in human rights violations and humanitarian crises, with a typhoid outbreak and reports of mistreatment and deaths on ships in the Netherlands.
Current Government plans to vastly increase the detention of people seeking asylum also mean that it is possible that any vessel used for accommodation in the short-term could formally become a detention facility, in contravention of the UK’s international obligations.
The significant harm caused by segregating people seeking asylum from the community has been well evidenced in reports from current institutional asylum accommodation, and by a wealth of research on detention-like conditions. Asylum accommodation has long been characterised by a lack of local consultation and resourcing, as well as inadequate healthcare and screening for vulnerabilities. People seeking asylum are effectively banned from working, and are kept in limbo for months or even years on minimal levels of asylum support. All too often, people are only able to access the support and services they need via extremely stretched voluntary organisations.
Across Tyneside, voluntary services are already stretched to capacity largely thanks to the Government’s extensive mismanagement of the asylum system. It would be impossible to step up the support and services that a barge at the Port of Tyne would require. In Birkenhead, Peel Ports have recently refused to further consider similar plans for a barge as they could “not see any conceivable scenario” in which local services would be “able to provide the necessary support”. On Teesside, PD Ports has said that a barge at Teesport “would not be viable”. We urge you to follow suit.
We understand that the Port of Tyne identifies treating people with respect, dignity and consideration among your key values, and we ask that you stand by those principles. Portland Port and Bibby Marine have undermined their stated values by agreeing to allow the Bibby Stockholm to be used to warehouse people seeking refuge in Dorset. We urge you not to make the same mistake, and we call on the Port of Tyne to refuse to enter into any similar agreements on the Tyne.
Yours,
Joan Hoult, CEO, Walking With in North Tyneside
Dr Pat Bond, Chair, New to the UK (Churches Together in North Shields)
Duncan McAuley, CEO, Action Foundation
Clare Hurst, Deputy Centre Director, North East Law Centre
Penny Henry, Spokesperson, Tynemouth Together With Refugees
Jennifer Laws, Campaigns Manager NE, Asylum Matters
Shami Hamidi, IANE, BME Case Advocate, North Shields
Alisdair Cameron, Co-Director, ReCoCo
Jane Kysow, Chair, Hexham Amnesty International Group
Dr Mohamed Nasreldin, Director, North of England Refugee Service
Miranda Reilly, Director, The Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees
Eleni Venaki, The Comfrey Project, Director
Caroline Afolabi-Deleu, Chair, Success4All
The Revd Christopher Minchin, Vicar, Benwell and Scotswood Team Parish, Church of England
Dr Kate Mukungu, Chief Executive, Riverside Community Health Project
Dr. Helen Groom, Chairperson, No To Hassockfield
Steve Newman, Chair, FODI Sunderland
Cat Hurst-McGahey, Chair, LGBT+ Northern Social Group Chair
Jacqui Jobson, Co-Chair, Rainbow Home
Sadia Sikandar, Member of Advisory Board and Community Campaigns Group, WERS
Karen Dobson, CEO, Scotswood Natural Community Garden Ltd
Shelley Purchon, Director, English Unlocked
Dr Lauren Wroe, Co-Founder and Trustee of Social Workers Without Borders, Assistant Professor at Durham University
Agnes, Spokesperson, Women for Refugee Women
Richard Young, Chair, Tyneside Welcomes
Bob Miller, Secretary, Wearside Amnesty
Elizabeth Josephs, Regional Lead, Care4Calais North East
Phil Watson, Chair, Justice and Peace Co-ordinating Council Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
John Harrison, Disabled People Against the Cuts North East
Norma Redfearn, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside
Cllr John O’Shea, Elected Member, North Tyneside Council
Cllr Habib Rahman, Elected Member, Newcastle upon Tyne
Cllr Lesley Storey, Elected Member, Newcastle City Council
Ian Ayres, Secretary, North Tyneside Trades Union Council
Ed Whitby, NEC Member, International Officer and Shop Steward, Newcastle City Unison
Dr Sally Walker, Retired Port of Tyne Medical Officer, North Shields
Mick Cave, Senior Public Health Improvement Practitioner, South Shields
Nicholas Lewis, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Harrogate
Laura McGregor, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Gateshead
Luis Soars, Clinical Psychologist, Chester le Street
Faye Soares, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Durham
Katrina Heywood, Educational Psychologist, Newcastle upon Tyne
Claire Mayer, Clinical Psychologist, Newcastle upon Tyne
Miriam Beeks, GP, Hackney
Dr Amit Chatterjee, GP, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Meghan Graham, Psychologist, London
Ash Summers, Clinical Psychologist, North Shields
Dr Christian Harkensee, Consultant Paediatrician, Gateshead
Dr Kathy Burrows, Clinical Psychologist, Durham
Jacob Easton, Gateshead
Tony Marron, North Shields
Penny Marron, North Shields
Tom Martin, Alnwick
Angela Handy, Company Director, The Claypath Deli
Carly Lovedawn, Pelaw, Gateshead
Helen Joyce, Whitley Bay
Melisa Maida, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sinéad McClement, Newcastle upon Tyne
Jill Hardie, Interim Manager, Rainbow Home
Benjamin Hopkinson, Volunteer, Northumberland County of Sanctuary
Tom Lynam, Active Inclusion Officer, Newcastle City Council
Emma Pearson, Support Worker, West End Refugee Service
Pippa Kendall, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Pam Wortley, Newcastle upon Tyne
Tim Fetherston, Sunderland
Gabrielle Bernstone, Newcastle upon Tyne
Julia Whitaker, Hexham
Chris Easton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Colin Taylor, Rowlands Gill
Thomas Lovedawn, Specialist Link Worker, Pelaw, Gateshead
Andrea Carter, Gateshead
Julie Fernyhough, Newcastle upon Tyne
Marion Cairns, Newcastle upon Tyne
Catherine Mackereth, Newcastle upon Tyne
Katie Bifani, Youth and Community Worker Lead, Newcastle
Raissa Kometa, Benefit Advisor, Newcastle upon Tyne
Kate Wisbach, Whitley Bay
June Holmes, Solicitor, Newcastle upon Tyne
Oliwia Libelt, Sunderland
Chris Myers, Seghill, Cramlington
Francis Reavley, Kirkwhelpington
Julie Maxwell, Finance Manager, Jarrow
Dr Lewis Turner, Lecturer in International Politics, Newcastle University
Malene Jacobsen, Newcastle upon Tyne
Faye Greason, Newcastle upon Tyne
Martin Heslop, North Shields
Yossra Abdelrahim, North Shields
Oliver Batchelor, Gateshead
Courtney Wallace, Gateshead
Simon Campbell, Volunteer Support Worker, Wolsingham
Alison Jelf, Newcastle upon Tyne
Bridget Rutherford, Newcastle upon Tyne
Alice Campbell, Wolsingham
Ann Gittins, Newcastle upon Tyne
Farah Kurji, Newcastle upon Tyne
Jenny Hopper, Whitley Bay
Sam Turnbull, Chester-le-Street
Kathleen, Newcastle upon Tyne
Gareth Stephens, CBT Therapist, Newcastle upon Tyne
Emer Chatterjee, Newcastle upon Tyne
Marie Donnelly, Social Worker, Sunderland
Dermot Delaney, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dawn Turner, Fulwell
Russell Purchon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Kate Dulohery, North Shields
Howell Davies, Chester-le-Street
Carmel McGrath, Newcastle upon Tyne
Emma Patterson, Local Government, Killingworth, North Tyneside
Francesca Di Giorgio, Newcastle upon Tyne
Philip Waite, Wolsingham
Amir Kurji, Newcastle upon Tyne
Judith Waters, Wylam, Northumberland
Nicky Waters, Newcastle
Hazel Tinegate, Morpeth
Amelia, WERS Volunteer, Newcastle
Grania Rogers, Volunteer, Hexham
Paul Bream, Wallsend
Joanne Underwood, Sunderland
Julie Ward, Freelance education consultant working in South Tyneside, Barnard Castle
Simone J Rudolphi, Educator/Documentary Photographer, Wallsend
Ian Parsons, Newcastle upon Tyne
Chris Simmons, Newcastle upon Tyne
Rose Seabury, Chester-le-Street
Melanie Birch, Newcastle upon Tyne
Anya Cook, Newcastle upon Tyne
Helen Allen, Whitley Bay
Jean Crocker, Gateshead
Lesley Spillard, Wallsend
Louise Brown, North East for Europe, Sunderland
Helen Frampton, Whitley Bay
Ali Rhind, Together with Refugees Group Member, Whitley Bay
Claire Metcalfe, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mhairi Rooney, Gateshead
Debbie Beeks, Gateshead
Helen Frankenberg, Whitley Bay
Anni Sanderson, Tynemouth
Jane Young, Newcastle upon Tyne
Melissa Girling, Newcastle
Helen Pennington, Volunteer, Tynemouth
Kathleen Burn, Whitley Bay
Catherine Donovan, Newcastle upon Tyne
Simon Veit-Wilson, Whitley Bay
Caroline Hoile, Newcastle upon Tyne
Nichola Rushton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Margaret Tennant, Whitley Bay
Helen Johnson, Tynemouth
Henry Tennant, Whitley Bay
Helen Baker, Retired Teacher, Tynemouth
Sue Barker, Tynemouth
Kathy Wesolowski, Newcastle upon Tyne
Karen Rann, Gateshead
John Giddins, Tynemouth
Bryony Spencer, Tynemouth
Noel Sharpe, Durham City
Mallory Smith, Tynemouth
Jen Bell, Newcastle upon Tyne
Caroline Brazier, Whitley Bay
Debbie Swain, Whitley Bay
Erica Haimes, Rowlands Gill
Paula Mulvenna, Retired Doctor, Newcastle upon Tyne
Hannah King, Durham
Gabrielle Karimian, Whitley Bay
Robin Williams, Emeritus Professor, Rowlands Gill
Lesley Duke, Humanitarian, Hexham
Colin Quigley, Newcastle upon Tyne
Alison Jobe, Associate Professor, Durham University
Jessica Port, Tynemouth
Stephen O’Mara, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sean Haimes, Shildon
Mags Leighton, Durham
Anon, Wetherby
Naomi Jackson, Social Worker, Social Workers Without Borders, Norwich
Deborah Carey, North Shields
Robert Lawrance, Newcastle upon Tyne
Neil Sabin, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sue Dean, Whitley Bay
Harriet Yudkin, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sarah Blackburn, Whitley Bay
Jenni Corner, Writer – Director, Tynemouth, North Shields
Emma Rowell, Barnard Castle
Jude Kirton-Darling, Former MEP North East England, Hexham
Rachael Marron, North Shields
Steve Balackburn, Whitley Bay
Lynne Heasman, Consett
Matthew Planchant, Newcastle upon Tyne
L A Laidlaw, Tynemouth
Patricia Stevens, Tynemouth
Karen Leaver, Tynemouth
Rosie Robertson, Glasgow
Loraine Masiya Mponela, Author, Coventry
Michael Duckett, Newcastle upon Tyne
Rosemary Atwill, Retired Teacher, Rochester
James Hanna, NEU, Teacher, Canterbury
Kenneth Taylor, Hexham
Anne Marron, Cullercoats
Annette Chevallier, Tynemouth
Shirley Bruce, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lorna MacKay, Newcastle upon Tyne
Kathryn Graham, Newcastle upon Tyne
Anne Baker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Pauline Jenkins, Volunteer Supporter, North Tyneside
Matt Graham, Croxley Green
Brendan Murphy, Whitley Bay
Fatmata Turay, Participant, Women with Hope, Birmingham
Brian Wood, Volunteer, New to the UK, North Shields
Jill Whiteford, Newcastle upon Tyne
Adele Stober, Hexham
Noreen Rees, Whitley Bay
Joan McSloy, North Shields
Angela Kennedy, Ryton
Robert Lawrance, Newcastle upon Tyne
Rebecca Mather, Gateshead
Wendy Howdin, Newcastle upon Tyne
Wendy Gregory, Newcastle upon Tyne
Donna Cheshire, Newcastle upon Tyne
Jane Freeman, Newcastle upon Tyne
Ingrid Fuller, Newcastle upon Tyne
Alison McGowan, Wallsend
Mary Lowe, Newcastle upon Tyne
Rebecca Knight, Newcastle upon Tyne
Isiobel Stewart, Newcastle upon Tyne
Stephen Wingate, Bedlington
Julie Ballands, Newcastle upon Tyne
Iris, Care Worker, Clara Vale
Josh Morland, Ryton
John Snowdon, Newcastle upon Tyne
Andy Jones, Humanist Celebrant, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lottie Hann, Newcastle upon Tyne
Dan Rogers, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Zenzile Chabuka, Participant, Women With Hope, Birmingham
Annie Sheridan, Cullercoats
Penny Remfry, Whitley Bay
Richard Smithson, Whitley Bay
Helen Bell, Whitley Bay
Tracy Affleck, Newcastle upon Tyne
Allie Wilson Craw, Newcastle upon Tyne
Anastasia Gerontaki, North Shields
Ian Jones, Tynemouth
Dr Liz Moylett, Ryton Gateshead
Andy SJ Lie, Newcastle upon Tyne
Peter Quinn, North Shields
Joan Hewitt, Resident, North Shields
Mark Husmann, North Shields
Mike Tilley, Whitley Bay
Jane Scharf, North Shields
Pam Goddard, Kirkcudbright
Vicki Gilbert, North Shields
Julia Charlton, Tutor, Whitley Bay
S Worst, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sarah, Newcastle upon Tyne
Jamie Callahan, Whickham
Martin Wm. Collins, Member, North Tyneside Green Party, Wallsend
Mandi Cresswell, Newcastle upon Tyne
Stefano Cremonesi, Durham
Graham Mowl, University Lecturer, Whitley Bay
George Ayres, Whitley Bay
Abby Hanson, Newcastle upon Tyne
Nazim Bharmal, York
Dr Gwyneth Lonergan, Lecturer in Sociology, Northumbria University
Rachel Ayres, Newcastle upon Tyne
Laurie Campbell , Newcastle upon Tyne
Stephen King, Cullercoats, North Shields
David Almond, Author, Tynemouth
Rachel Goulding, Welfare Benefit Caseworker, Cullercoats
Dimitris Skleparis, Lecturer, Newcastle University
John Searle, Kirkcudbright
Harriet Menter, Newcastle upon Tyne
David Peel, North Shields
Ricky Thamman Volunteer at Spice FM, North East Against Racism, Mental Health North East, Freedom From Torture, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sarah Rennie, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sitna Quiroz, Durham
Shayan Gazerani, Newcastle
Elaine Beard, Co.Director, Tynemouth
Felicity Shenton, North Shields
Elizabeth Archibald, Newcastle upon Tyne
Stephanie Lai, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mel Kakkar, Gateshead
Helen Price, North Shields
Joe Holtaway, Newcastle
Richard House, Gateshead
Libby Davison, Newcastle upon Tyne
Gail Ward, Hexham
Hannah Greason, Newcastle upon Tyne
