An asylum accommodation center at the Wethersfield former RAF base in Essex provides a range of amenities, including a gymnasium, sports hall, snack bar, and 17 minibuses for transport into nearby towns, according to Peter Harris, Leader of Essex County Council. Harris, who was granted access to the facility, described the site as a "holiday camp" where residents "want for practically nothing."
The center houses approximately 800 male asylum seekers, with plans to increase capacity. Residents receive free food, mobile phones with generous allowances, and a weekly allowance of £9.95 on a prepaid debit card for incidental costs. The main restaurant offers three meals daily with varied options, including halal meat for all residents. While described as a multi-faith area, the available religious materials are primarily Islamic.
Seventeen minibuses operate three times daily, seven days a week, transporting residents to towns such as Braintree, Chelmsford, and Colchester. Harris expressed concern that this free access to communities is provided with "next to no consideration for the townsfolk and their safety," noting that some residents alter their shopping times to avoid the influx.
During his visit, Harris observed many residents using their mobile phones, while others were in the gym. He noted the presence of individuals he described as dedicated bodybuilders and a potential mixed martial arts athlete. A police officer assigned to the site spends several hours daily there, with another officer available for related crimes.
Harris raised concerns about the vetting process for asylum seekers, noting that while biometric data is collected at the Manston Asylum Processing Centre, DNA samples are not. He was told this might contravene human rights. He suggested that individuals could arrive at Wethersfield with new identities, making it difficult to track their past.
An induction course is offered to new arrivals, covering expected behavior in Britain, including how men should treat women and children. Harris questioned the effectiveness of a two-day course in altering deeply held cultural attitudes.
The site also includes an NHS medical facility staffed by doctors and nurses. According to information provided, a number of arrivals have active or latent tuberculosis, and some suffer from scabies. Approximately 10 percent of residents are receiving treatment for mental health issues.
The cost of such facilities is significant, with national asylum accommodation contracts estimated to cost taxpayers £15.3 billion over the next decade. Harris contrasted this expenditure with the needs of local communities and suggested that the Wethersfield site could be repurposed for a Veterans Village.
He concluded that the facility is "the wrong facility, in the wrong place, being used for the wrong purpose," criticizing the government's handling of the asylum system and the challenges in removing individuals whose claims are unsuccessful.