Essex Council to hire security due to concerns over gatherings of asylum seekers | News

Private guards will monitor town centres amid local authority criticism

Essex County Council is planning to employ private security guards to patrol town and city centres in response to worries about community safety linked to gatherings of asylum seekers.

Security operatives will be tasked with deterring antisocial behaviour and providing reassurance to residents in areas including Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford.

Expansion at Wethersfield

The decision comes amidst criticism from local authorities over the UK’s government plans to increase the number of asylum seekers housed at the nearby former RAF airbase in Wethersfield.

Peter Harris, council leader, voiced concerns over the current induction process at the centre, indicating it lacks adequate introduction to British culture and societal expectations, particularly regarding behaviour towards women and girls.

Harris stated: “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.”

Transport and facilities

The Home Office currently operates 17 minibuses transporting asylum seekers from Wethersfield to the nearby towns daily.

Harris questioned the necessity of such daily trips given the comprehensive amenities available within Wethersfield and plans to raise this issue urgently with the Home Office.

The government has proposed to expand Wethersfield’s housing capacity to 1,245 bedspaces, a move intended to reduce the reliance on hotels for housing asylum seekers.

The Essex County Council is in the process of contracting a security company to implement these measures.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment on the situation.

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