FACT CHECK | The truth about crime, protests and policing costs at the Bibby Stockholm
For more than two years, the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge in Portland has been at the centre of public debate, with claims ranging from soaring crime to excessive policing costs.
Official figures released by Dorset Police now provide the clearest picture yet of what actually happened during Operation Avocet – the policing operation established to support the site.
Crime: What do the figures show?
Between the start of the operation and its conclusion, Dorset Police recorded 39 crimes where a resident of the Bibby Stockholm was identified as the suspect.
The offences comprised:
* 22 violence against the person offences
* Four sexual offences
* Four theft offences
* Four drug offences
* Two public order offences
* One criminal damage offence
* One anti-social behaviour offence
* One other offence
The data also shows there were 18 crimes where the suspect was not a resident of the barge, including robbery, theft, criminal damage, public order and 11 violence offences.
Were protests responsible for rising crime?
One of the most debated issues has been the regular demonstrations outside the Portland Port site.
However, Dorset Police’s figures show that although 16 protests or reports of planned protests took place, only three recorded crimes occurred within a protest.
Those offences consisted of:
* One violence against the person offence
* One public order offence
* One criminal damage offence
The force also confirmed that its Professional Standards Department found no complaints relating to the policing of the Bibby Stockholm operation after searching records using a range of relevant keywords.
How much did it cost?
Operation Avocet cost £1.137 million over two financial years.
However, Dorset Police did not meet that bill alone.
The Home Office reimbursed £958,715, leaving Dorset Police with a net cost of approximately £178,608.
The expenditure covered command staff, police investigators, PCSOs, media support, overtime, administrative staff, planning costs and mutual aid from neighbouring police forces.
Were officers taken away from neighbourhood policing?
A common claim during the operation was that officers had been diverted away from local communities to police the Bibby Stockholm.
The official response suggests this was not the case.
Dorset Police says it did not have officers or staff dedicated solely to Operation Avocet. Instead, the work was incorporated into normal policing duties and day-to-day shifts, meaning the force cannot accurately identify the number of officers or hours specifically spent policing the operation.
Mutual aid from other police forces was only required on four occasions during the operation.
Arrests
Officers made 41 arrests during Operation Avocet, although Dorset Police notes that some individuals were arrested for more than one offence.
The force says it cannot provide conviction figures because they are held by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service rather than the police.
The verdict
The official data paints a more nuanced picture than many of the claims made throughout the Bibby Stockholm debate.
Crime involving residents did occur and included serious offences. However, the figures also show that criminal offences linked directly to protests were relatively rare.
Financially, while the policing operation exceeded £1.1 million in total expenditure, more than **84% of the cost was funded by the Home Office**, leaving Dorset Police with a significantly smaller net contribution.
As discussions continue about asylum accommodation and its impact on local communities, these figures provide the most comprehensive factual account yet of the policing operation surrounding the Bibby Stockholm.
The full document can be view https://tidenews.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wp-1783530711028.pdf
