Crowborough Erupts in Protest Over Asylum Seeker Plans
Hundreds of angry residents in Crowborough, East Sussex, have taken to the streets for the third consecutive weekend, mounting a major backlash against government proposals. The source of their fury is a Home Office plan to relocate approximately 600 lone male asylum seekers into a local army training camp on the town's outskirts.
The community feels the decision has been forced upon them with minimal consultation, with the first arrivals expected as soon as next week. In a powerful visual statement, six hundred protesters wore numbered bibs during a march to highlight the number of individuals slated to be housed at the military site.
Cadet Displacement and Safety Fears Ignite Community Anger
The mounting anger is fuelled by revelations that the long-running youth cadet detachments based at the camp could be removed to accommodate the new arrivals. This has sparked profound anxiety over the future of these youth groups and the safety of young recruits.
Senior cadet instructors have voiced deep concern about mixing youth detachments with a large influx of adult men, stating the risks remain unresolved. In light of these fears, adult instructors are now considering suspending all training once the migrants move in, as they cannot guarantee the safeguarding of youngsters on site.
Residents say their alarm is compounded by reports that, up to August this year, at least 200 people living in asylum hotels across the country had been charged with criminal offences, including sexual assaults.
Heightened Security and Community Patrols
As preparations for the arrival of more than 500 asylum seekers continue, the landscape of the camp is rapidly changing. Large perimeter fences have been erected in recent days, and security guards with dogs have been seen patrolling the area.
In a direct response to the perceived threat, parents and cadet volunteers—who have no official training—have reportedly begun conducting their own 'counter patrols' near pick-up and drop-off times to monitor any potential risks to children.
The residents' group, Crowborough Shield, which opposes the plans, has warned that cadets "will be displaced, with no alternative location offered." Locals express feeling ignored by officials and increasingly anxious about the sudden move's impact on community safety, local services, and the future of their cherished cadet units.
