'A floating prison' First asylum seekers go onboard Bibby Stockholm barge

‘Inhumane’ government accused of reverting to the Victorian era with up to 500 spaces for people fleeing to escape war and persecution

- Rajeev Syal

People seeking refuge who were ordered to live on a controversial giant barge have been reprieved after legal challenges claimed the vessel was unsafe and unsuitable for traumatised people.

As the first 15 people were moved on to the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset, on Monday lawyers said they are intervening to halt the transfer of dozens more on to the vessel.

The developments came as the Home Office fulfilled Rishi Sunak's promise to use barges and former military bases to accommodate asylum seekers after the cost of housing them in hotels rose to £1.9bn ($2.4bn) last year. But their use has been condemned by refugee organisations for being costly, cruel and inhumane. The Fire Brigades Union has described the barge as "a deathtrap".

The Home Office faces legal action if it resists formal appeals to remove asylum seekers from consideration because of mental health issues, physical conditions or vulnerabilities.

The refugee charity Care4Calais said this week that it had stopped 20 people from being forced to board the barge so far, with dozens more referrals coming in "by the hour" from other refugees staying in hotels.