A first group of asylum seekers has been moved into a former military camp in East Sussex, the Home Office has confirmed, as protests and legal challenges are expected. Twenty-seven men arrived at Crowborough training camp in the early hours of Thursday, with plans to scale up to 500 over several months.
The camp is one of two military sites identified to house 900 people, the other being in Inverness. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move is part of a plan to move people out of hotels, stating: 'Illegal migration has been placing immense pressure on communities. Crowborough is just the start.'
Campaign group Crowborough Shield, which has launched a legal challenge, called on Wealden District Council to issue a stop notice. A spokesperson said: 'We remain determined to have the home secretary’s decision overturned. Our case has always been about the secretive and improper use of emergency powers to bypass planning law.'
The council leader, James Partridge, said he told immigration minister Alex Norris the decision was wrong and that legal options are being explored. Conservative MP Nus Ghani criticised the Home Office's lack of transparency as 'shameful'.
The Home Office said the accommodation has 24/7 security, CCTV, and strict sign-in processes, with residents having completed health and police checks. The new arrivals are expected to be recent migrants, often arriving via small boats across the Channel.
