A Piddington resident has expressed fury over police advice given to villagers about how to respond if approached by a migrant. Christina Gower spoke out as plans to house 1,250 male asylum seekers at a former military base near the Oxfordshire village continue to spark controversy.
Resident's fears over safety
Christina Gower, a resident of the village of around 350 people, told GB News that rural police advised her and other residents to "run and hide" if approached by a migrant. She said officers told them it would take up to 45 minutes for police to reach the area.
"When we spoke to rural policing, they said to us that it would take up to 45 minutes for them to get here and the best thing we can do for ourselves is to run and hide," she said.
Village vote and political pressure
The majority of Piddington residents voted in favour of leaving the UK in response to Labour's plans to house the migrants on their doorstep. Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging her to reconsider the decision, citing concerns over community safety and police resources.
Christina recalled being approached by an illegal migrant on a busy road when she was 15. She said the man asked her to engage in sex with him before following her home. She managed to get home safely but believes this was only because the encounter took place on a busy road, something she says does not exist in Piddington.
Government accused of ignoring residents
"We don't have that here in Piddington. We don't have that security," she told GB News presenter Dawn Neesom. Christina also expressed frustration at being ignored by the government, saying she attended a debate about the plans in parliament where no one came to speak to residents.
"At any point, any of them could have come to speak to us, but they refused to speak to us," she said. "Seven times now Andy Burnham has said he would listen to the people of Piddington, but he hasn't, he's ignored us."
Christina added: "He's ignored all of our concerns. It's about time this Labour government puts its taxpayers and British residents first."
