Protesters block coach in Peckham from taking asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm barge

Forty-five arrested as asylum seekers return to hotel and transfer is abandoned

Forty-five people were arrested in southeast London on Thursday after a group of protesters blocked a coach set to take asylum seekers to theBibby Stockholm barge.

A group of people sat in front of a coach near the Best Western Hotel in Peckham as they announced that “refugees are welcome here”.

Pictures showed police officers surrounding the coach – which had a flat tyre – and removing several protesters while others joining the demonstration sat in the road.

The asylum seekers were taken off the coach and returned to their hotel.

More than 40 officers attended the protest (PA)

The protesters in Peckham could be heard chanting “no borders, no nations, stop deportations” in footage filmed at the scene. Other videos showed the activists surrounding the coach with linked arms, chanting “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.

Did you attend the protest? Email athena.stavrou@independent.co.uk

Welfare group SOAS Detainee Support also posted on X calling for more people to help them stop the coach leaving.

Officers were seen removing the protestors several hours after the action began (PA)

The posts said: “Comrades have stopped our friends being taken to the Bibby barge – but more numbers needed! We’ve also learned the coach is meant to be taking people from three other hotels en route.

“Resistance may be needed at these three hotels if the coach eventually leaves Peckham – but the comrades are determined it won’t!”

Police officers removed the protesters several hours after the action began.

Protesters surround the coach on Thursday morning (PA)

Home secretary James Cleverly said the government would “continue to remove those with no right to be here despite continued efforts by the Labour Party and a coalition of disparate student groups to stop us”.

Deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said in a statement: “It saddens me greatly to say that a number of officers have been assaulted in the course of their duty following an incident in Peckham today where they sought to uphold the law.”

It comes as the Home Office abandoned plans to move a group of asylum seekers in Kent to the Bibby Stockholm barge in the wake of protests.

The men living in Margate were served notice that they would be transferred to the asylum accommodation in Dorset earlier this month.

Activists in Margate blocked the transfer of a group of asylum seekers to the ‘Bibby Stockholm’ (PA)

But following action by residents to disrupt coaches on 24 and 25 April, the Home Office has now withdrawn the plans.

A letter sent by government officials on Monday, seen by the PA news agency, said: “The formal notice to quit the property is now withdrawn with immediate effect. You will no longer need to travel to the Bibby Stockholm.”

Mayor of Margate Rob Yates said residents wanted to support the men, from Afghanistan and Pakistan, who have become part of the community after living and volunteering in the area for seven months.

“I think the Margate community is ready to protect its own residents,” he said. “We tried to avoid shouting or disrupting traffic while blocking the coach, resulting in no police involvement and hopefully helped to make the men in the hotel feel safe.

“Going forwards, we’re ready to do this again. Community activism is a valid tool when it comes to protecting asylum seekers, and I think in this current climate [it] is one that we should all consider.”