Crowds gather to remember man who died on Portland barge

On Tuesday, December 12, an asylum seeker living on board the barge reportedly took his own life.

Police were called to Portland Port at around 6.22am on Tuesday morning and are conducting enquiries into the circumstances of the death.

Around 60 people gathered at the Port Gates on Portland to hold a service of remembrance and voice their anger over the controversial policy.

Messages were left by members of the public (Image: Tom Lawrence)Candles, letters and flowers were laid at the vigil (Image: Tom Lawrence)A poignant message was left by one member of the public saying your life mattered (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Flowers, letters and candles were laid by members of the public and a minute's silence was observed.

Asylum seekers living on the barge paid their respects (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Several asylum seekers who live on the barge also joined the vigil and held their own minute's silence for the man who lost his life.

Candy Udwin, of Stand Up to Racism, said: "I have spoken to the guys and they thank everyone for coming.

"They are so frustrated they don't even know the name of the person who died."

"We at Stand Up to Racism want to remember him and we want to make sure his death means something.

"For us that means making sure it isn't allowed to happen again.

"We have always said that barge is not the right place to house human beings."

Members of the public gave short speeches and voiced their concerns about the continued use of the Bibby Stockholm.

Portland Town Councillor Giovanna Lewis said that she and others will continue to lobby to try and have asylum seekers removed from the barge and into alternative accommodation.

She said: "We have heard from men who are normally ok in their hotels, they come here and they get depressed.

"It is inhumane and it is brutal.

"We work hard to give these men things to do to get them off that cage for a few hours of sanity to give them hope.

"We will continue to lobby and campaign to get rid of that barge and get people decent accommodation."

Local residents came to pay their respects to the man who died.

Caz Dennett and Penny Quilter came to pay their respects (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Caz Dennett said: "When people are in prison for committing a real crime, they count the days down.

"When you are in this kind of situation all you can do is count the days up, you don't know what is going to happen to you next, that is really torturous.

"You're in limbo, that is no way to treat people."

Around 60 people gathered at the port gates to remember the man who died on the barge (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Penny Quilter said: "It was a surprise and a shock to hear somebody died.

"There is a real upset that nobody knows who, not even the people on the barge.

"It has been very moving to hear the messages from everyone."