Private security guards have begun patrolling three Essex town centres under a Reform-led initiative aimed at addressing concerns about the impact of a nearby asylum accommodation centre on local communities.
Essex County Council said six security operatives had started a three-month trial, dubbed Operation Vanguard, in Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester. Two guards will patrol each town from 10am to 6pm every day.
The initiative follows the Government’s decision to increase capacity at RAF Wethersfield, a former military airfield used to accommodate asylum seekers, from 800 to 1,245 residents. The Home Office has said the predominantly male facility is expected to remain operational into and beyond 2027.
Local residents have raised concerns about groups of men travelling from the site into nearby towns to use shops and public services. Reform councillors said particular concerns had been raised by women and girls over intimidation and alleged inappropriate behaviour.
Peter Harris, Reform leader of Essex County Council, said the patrols would provide a “visible and reassuring presence” while putting residents’ safety first.
The guards will focus on areas where asylum seekers are dropped off, while also responding to wider security concerns. Their responsibilities include deterring anti-social behaviour, reassuring the public and gathering evidence to assess whether additional measures are necessary.
The scheme is expected to cost about £118,000 plus VAT, funded through a community improvement fund.
The decision has nevertheless faced opposition from other councillors and comes despite police saying there is no evidence of significant crime linked to the Wethersfield site.
Essex Police Chief Constable Rachel Nolan said she had seen no reason for residents to be concerned about criminality associated with migrants accommodated there.
A council report similarly acknowledges the Home Office position that the facility has not affected local crime levels, while noting anecdotal concerns about perceptions of risk.
Labour councillor Lee Scordis accused Reform of acting out of prejudice, while Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Robinson warned that reinforcing stereotypes could damage community cohesion.
Robinson called for effective policing and investment in women’s safety, noting that private security guards have no powers of arrest and would need to refer suspected offences to police.
Similar tensions have emerged in Oxfordshire, where residents of Piddington are holding a symbolic referendum over plans to house up to 1,250 male asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence site. The village has about 350 residents, while more than 100 local women have signed an open letter raising concerns.
The referendum has no legal force but is intended to take place before the planning consultation closes.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Public safety remains our first priority and we expect any criminality to be taken seriously. We work with local police to ensure the safety and security of local communities around the site, the staff who work there and those accommodated.
“The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms. We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, close every asylum hotel and move asylum seekers into alternative accommodation including former military sites.”
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