Essex County Council, led by Reform UK, has announced plans to hire private security guards in response to concerns about community safety over what it describes as “daily gatherings of asylum seekers”.
The council said “operatives” will monitor town and city centres in Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford, with the aim of deterring anti-social behaviour and reassuring residents.
Concerns over Wethersfield expansion
The local authority has heavily criticised government plans to increase the number of asylum seekers housed at the former RAF airbase Wethersfield, located nearby.
Council leader Peter Harris said the induction process at the centre was “woefully inadequate”, especially regarding the introduction to British culture and “expectations we have of acceptable behaviour toward to women and girls”.
“Concerns for community safety are clearly there, particularly among women and girls, because of the daily gatherings of asylum seekers – gatherings which will increase in number and size as the facility expands,” he said.
Home Office minibus fleet
Harris added: “I have voiced these concerns directly to the Home Office, which now runs a fleet of 17 minibuses to the three nearest towns and cities on a daily basis.”
“You would have to question whether daily trips to the nearest town and cities are justified given the comprehensive nature of what is provided at Wethersfield.”
“This is an issue I will be returning to with the Home Office as a matter of urgency.”
Security contract and bedspace target
The county council said it is in the process of contracting a security company.
Ministers are seeking to fill 1,245 bedspaces at Wethersfield, up from a cap of 800, after pledging to end the costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
