Crowborough Residents Accuse Home Office of Deception Over Early Morning Asylum Seeker Arrival
Residents living adjacent to a former army barracks in Crowborough, East Sussex, have launched scathing accusations against the Home Office, claiming the department has "lied" to the local community. The allegations follow the arrival of 27 male asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp in the early hours of Thursday morning, with mini-buses escorted by police pulling into the site at precisely 3.28am.
Community in Shock Over Scale of Operation
The Home Office has pressed ahead with controversial plans to accommodate up to 540 asylum seekers at the former military facility, despite months of sustained protests from furious locals. A couple living metres from the army base expressed profound concern about both the sudden operational commencement and the projected scale of the development.
Christine Straker, a local resident, described the community as "shell-shocked" by the turn of events. "We knew it was going to happen because they just spent so much money down there and they've just taken us all for idiots, to be honest," she stated. "The Home Office have just lied and not done anything they promised."
Mrs Straker revealed she only learned the site would become operational on Wednesday evening, despite health-affecting worries since November. "We weren't sleeping and it was really affecting our health," she confessed. Her partner, Phillip Straker, added that while relief wasn't the appropriate sentiment, knowing what they now faced provided some grim clarity.
Political Condemnation and Local Fury
The arrival has sparked immediate political condemnation. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labelled it "another day of shame" for the Labour government, warning that "women and children of Crowborough will be exposed to those risks too," referencing crimes he alleged had been committed by individuals in asylum accommodation elsewhere.
Local opposition has been vociferous and organised. The campaign group Crowborough Shield has accused Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of shamefully failing to properly participate in a judicial review process and is seeking an injunction against the scheme. Residents have taken to the streets every Sunday for months, marching with placards declaring "Crowborough says no."
Council Considers Legal Challenge Amid Accusations of Secrecy
Wealden District Council leader, James Partridge, stated the government had refused to listen to residents' concerns. "I told the minister we strongly feel that is the wrong decision. Despite our strong objection the minister hasn't listened to any of us," he said. The council has contacted its legal team to explore grounds for a challenge, though Partridge acknowledged this was a "long shot."
Local MP Nusrat Ghani described the move as a "blow" and a "non-sensical decision," criticising the Home Office's lack of transparency and failure to provide evidence regarding the site's safety and legality. She highlighted that the active training camp, used by Army and RAF cadets as well as police and fire services, has now been repurposed, displacing those vital functions.
Home Office Defends Strategy Amid Growing Backlog
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the action, stating, "Crowborough is just the start. I will bring forward site after site until every asylum hotel is closed and returned to local communities." The asylum seekers are expected to be housed at the 24/7 security-monitored site for up to three months while their claims are processed.
The move comes as latest figures show the number of asylum seekers in temporary hotel accommodation rose by 13 per cent to 36,273 by the end of September, underscoring the intense pressure on the system. The Home Office maintains that all individuals have undergone health and police checks prior to arrival.
Despite these assurances, the mood in Crowborough remains one of betrayal and determination. Campaigners vow to continue their fight, arguing the entire process has been conducted in an underhand manner, leaving a community feeling ignored, misled, and deeply concerned for its future safety and character.
