Plans to temporarily house asylum seekers at a military training camp situated near a police firearms test centre have ignited fury among campaigners, who warn the move could re-traumatise people fleeing war and conflict.
Controversial Plans for Crowborough Camp
The government recently announced its intention to accommodate approximately 600 people at Crowborough Training Camp on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex. This decision, however, has drawn immediate criticism due to the site's proximity to the Sussex Police Training Centre in Kingstanding, located just 1.2 miles away.
Activists confirm that the police centre is routinely used for firearms, taser, and police dog training exercises. The audible sounds from these drills are a primary concern for those advocating for the well-being of asylum seekers.
Campaigners Warn of Psychological Harm
Nicola David of the campaign group One Life to Live stated, "Any sounds of shooting would be audible from Crowborough Training Camp – this is highly likely to be retraumatising for asylum-seekers fleeing war, conflict and persecution." She also raised alarms about potential explosives training involving police dogs, noting that any detonations would have a similar harmful effect.
The sentiment was echoed by leading refugee charities. Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, called large military camps "never safe or appropriate accommodation sites for people seeking safety." He referenced a recent Home Affairs Committee report warning of a high risk of suicide and harm in such locations.
"People’s proximity to audible explosions will inevitably increase this harm and retraumatise those who have escaped persecution and conflict," Hilton added, urging the government to focus on solving the national housing crisis instead.
Nathan Phillips, head of campaigns at Asylum Matters, reinforced this, saying, "Everyone deserves to be housed in a community, not a camp, and the sound of gunfire and explosions are just one of the many ways that accommodation at Crowborough is utterly unsuitable for people seeking sanctuary."
Local Opposition and Government Response
The controversy emerges just days after Andrew Larter, the Home Office's director of asylum accommodation, apologised for a lack of detail provided during a meeting with concerned locals and councillors. He admitted that housing asylum seekers at the site would cost roughly the same as hotels but described the accommodation as "more spartan" and "less comfortable."
Larter outlined that the camp, with a capacity for around 540 people, would be designed to be as self-contained as possible, including health and recreational facilities. He stated that ministers are finalising a community impact assessment to ensure the site is "safe, legal and compliant."
Despite these assurances, significant local opposition has mounted. Key concerns include:
- Inadequate staffing at the camp
- Increased strain on local police and public services
- Potential risks to public safety
Hundreds of protesters gathered recently, waving flags and placards against the proposal. Wealden District Council has confirmed it is exploring legal options to challenge the plan.
Other organisations have voiced strong objections. Conversation Over Borders warned of potential "human rights failures" and a waste of taxpayers' money. Steve Smith of Care4Calais criticised the policy of "shovelling people into former barracks."
In defence of using military sites, the Home Office has previously stated they deliver better value for taxpayers and reduce the impact on local communities. Meanwhile, the Labour party has pledged to stop using hotels for asylum accommodation before the next election.
When approached for comment, a Sussex Police spokesperson said, "Kingstanding is a police training site used by Sussex and Surrey police forces as well as a number of other agencies. For operational reasons, we are not able to provide any further information regarding the site." The government was also approached for comment.
