Where are the South's asylum seekers being housed?
ReutersIt has been a year since the Bibby Stockholm asylum barge departed Portland on the Dorset coast - a moment that divided a community.
Today, asylum is one of the most divisive issues in the UK, with anti-immigration demonstrations taking place in towns and cities across the country.
Much of the tension has centred on where asylum seekers are being accommodated.
Former army barracks, hotels and houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) are among the places currently being used.
How many people are being housed?
Across the UK, 111,651 asylum seekers are receiving government‑funded support and accommodation.
Patterns vary sharply by region.
The south of England relies heavily on hotel accommodation.
Northern England and Scotland tend to use more HMOs.
Where are asylum seekers staying in the South?
Portsmouth City Council supports the highest number of asylum seekers of any local authority in the region, with 761 people living in private accommodation, including hotels and HMOs.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) currently house 618 asylum seekers, the majority in hotels. Bournemouth has also been the site of several anti‑immigration protests outside these hotels.
In Oxford, most of the 239 asylum seekers are similarly staying in hotel accommodation.
Reading Borough Council has 685 asylum seekers, again mostly in hotels.
At the other end of the scale, Dorset Council supports just two asylum seekers in private accommodation.
What changed when the Bibby Stockholm was in Dorset?
When the Bibby Stockholm barge was moored off Portland, Dorset's numbers looked very different.
The county would have had more than 500 asylum seekers staying locally - a dramatic increase compared with the present day.
Why do people seek asylum in the UK?
People claim asylum because they cannot safely remain in their home countries, often due to persecution, conflict or violence.
While their claims are processed, it is the UK government's responsibility to provide housing and financial support.
How much does this accommodation cost?
The cost of housing asylum seekers is expected to reach £15.3bn over 10 years between 2019-2029, the National Audit Office says.
Hotel use has become one of the most expensive elements of the asylum system.
The government has pledged to end the use of hotels by 2029.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels, which is why we are prioritising more sustainable dispersal accommodation, including military and industrial sites.
"The Home Secretary has recently announced sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration.
“Measures include reducing incentives for illegal migrants to travel to the UK, such as revoking the legal duty to provide asylum‑seeker support, including housing."
