Cllr Laura Beddow, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Culture and Communities said:
“Dorset Council continues to work with other statutory agencies and partners including the Home Office, Dorset Police, Health, Weymouth and Portland Town Councils and Portland Port. The situation is complex, but we are jointly preparing for the arrival of the barge in Portland.
“Dorset Police has been working with national colleagues to better understand the potential community impact of an asylum centre on Portland.
“Whilst the arrival of asylum seekers may increase the fear of crime, the experience of other areas has been that the presence of a well-managed facility should see very low levels of crime and antisocial behaviour and in some cases a reduction in the wider community due to the increased presence of support staff.
“We understand that there are local concerns and uncertainty, and so as more decisions and local engagement plans evolve through the multi-agency forum, we will continue to keep our residents informed.
“The Home Office factsheet has been updated and is available online. This is the best place for residents and stakeholders to read this information for answers to their questions.”
