Watch: Peckham protesters block coach bringing asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm

The Met Police said 45 people were arrested after protesters attempted to block a coach transferring asylum seekers from a hotel to the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Officers were called at around 8.40am on Thursday May 2 to reports of a group of protesters near a hotel in Peckham Road, southeast London.

They were trying to stop the asylum seekers' removal to the barge in Dorset.

Video footage showed a group of activists wearing masks surrounding the bus chanting “Refugees are welcome here”. 

Photos online also show Lime bikes being placed underneath the bus to prevent it from moving.

According to the BBC some activists were seen being dragged away from the coach. They then went on to block the road.

At about 3pm it was driven away from the hotel, seemingly without any passengers.

The Met Police said a number of people were arrested for offences including obstruction of the highway and one for a racially aggravated public order offence. They have all been taken into custody.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “It was reported that a coach due to transport people to a location in Dorset had been prevented from leaving by a group of people who stood around it and obstructed it with bicycles. We were not made aware of this operation beforehand.

“The coach’s tyres were also reportedly deflated to prevent it from leaving.

“My officers were quickly on scene and spoke to the coach driver, and especially protesters at length. They were warned that they could be arrested.

“After this demonstrators blocked the road and continued to prevent the coach, and police vehicles, from leaving.

“More officers were sent to the scene to safely remove people from the road, allow the vehicles to leave and for the road to re-open.

“A number of officers have reported being assaulted. Thankfully I’m glad that none of those are seriously hurt.

“A total of 45 people have been arrested and taken into police custody for offences including obstruction of the highway, obstructing police and assault on police. A full breakdown will follow later.

"There was one arrest for a racially aggravated public order offence. They were not part of the protest group.

"As I said earlier, we will always respect the right to peaceful protest, but when officers are assaulted and obstructed from their duty then we can and will take decisive action.

“My officers have now left the scene and the road has re-opened.”

A Home Office spokesperson described the protesters' behaviour as "intimidatory and aggressive".

They said: "As part of our commitment to significantly reducing the use of hotels, asylum seekers are being moved into alternative accommodation to reduce costs on the taxpayer. Accommodation is allocated to asylum seekers on a no-choice basis."

The spokesperson said: "Asylum seekers can make representations if they believe they are unsuitable to be moved to the Bibby Stockholm. These are considered in full before any decision is made."

Home Secretary James Cleverly said in a post on X: "Housing migrants in hotels costs the British taxpayer millions of pounds every day.

"We will not allow this small group of students, posing for social media, to deter us from doing what is right for the British public."