Rwanda Policy protestors gather to support Dorset asylum seekers

Dozens of people gathered outside the police station on Wednesday, May 1, in a peaceful protest of the recent passing of the Rwanda Bill.

The controversial policy plans to deliver flights to immigrants from the UK to Rwanda in a bid to 'deter migrants from making perilous journeys across the channel.'

Bournemouth protestors reported around 40 asylum seekers were interviewed, and two people were held for extended interviews and could potentially be deported out of the country.

Whenever the asylum seekers would leave the police station after being interviewed, the protestors would cheer. 

Dorset residents and representatives from Stand up to Racism and Amnesty International attended the demonstration to ensure the people at risk of being deported 'got proper representation and ensure they don't feel abandoned or alone.'

Pete Wearden, from Stand up to Racism, said: "We think the Rwanda policy is an inhumane, expensive gimmick.

"These people should be allowed to work and contribute to society instead of being treated like criminals.

"They're not criminals; they are people fleeing persecution, discrimination and in some cases starvation and war zones."

Pete called the Conservatives' Rwanda policy' racist scapegoating'.

Mark Stinson, from Amnesty International, said: "We abhor the recent legislation and inhumane nature of the way in which these asylum seekers are being treated."

The Home Office said the first illegal migrants set to be removed to Rwanda have now been detained following a series of nationwide operations this week.

Operational teams within the Home Office have been 'working at pace to safely and swiftly detain individuals in scope for relocation to Rwanda', with more activity due to be carried out in the coming weeks.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "Our Rwanda Partnership is a pioneering response to the global challenge of illegal migration, and we have worked tirelessly to introduce new, robust legislation to deliver it.   

"Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground.    

"This is a complex piece of work, but we remain absolutely committed to operationalising the policy to stop the boats and break the business model of people smuggling gangs."

An attendee at the demonstration was a man who has been seeking asylum in Bournemouth since August 2022.

Despite originally coming from Egypt, he said he is under threat of being relocated to Rwanda following the recent legislation.

His friends and translator said: "He was shaking, and scared, he didn't know what was happening and didn't want to go.

"He said, 'If they send me to Rwanda, I will kill myself'.

"I keep my window open, and if they come to my house again. I will jump."

Image sent by The Home Office of people being detained across the country. (Image: The Home Office)

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns commented on the government's Rwanda Policy.

He said: "Every country has an absolute right to determine who can and cannot come to live in it. The Rwanda policy is a response to the arrival of people to the UK illegally.

"We need to break the criminal gangs who exploit people to bring them to the UK. The knowledge that those arriving illegally will be removed to be processed offshore and will not have the automatic right to stay in the UK will help remove the incentive to travel here illegally."

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood added: "These people don't have the right to stay in Britain.

"It's understandable that they may object to being sent to Rwanda, but the purpose of the policy is to be fair and balanced and allow us to retain those who require a safe haven."

In response to the Conservative policy, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth West, Jessica Toale, said: "The government's Rwanda Bill is a phenomenal waste of taxpayer money and an election gimmick designed to distract attention from their failure to deal with the asylum backlog.

"At a time when people in Bournemouth can't get a GP or NHS dentist appointment, the government is spending half a billion pounds to remove just a few hundred people to Rwanda - less than 1 per cent of the entire asylum backlog. They are not entirely clear about the full cost of the scheme.

"I want to see the asylum backlog cleared and hotel use ended within 12 months. UK police and intelligence services need to work much more closely with Interpol to crack down on smuggler gangs."

Dorset Police attended the protest to 'liaise with those present and ensure there was no breach of the peace.'

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police respects people's rights to lawful protest, and where possible, we will work with organisers to facilitate people's rights to demonstrate peacefully.

"However, we have a duty to ensure those involved act within the law, prevent any public disorder and ensure the local community can go about their lawful activities."