A council in Essex is launching a three-month trial of civilian security patrols in three locations near an asylum seeker accommodation site. The initiative, led by a Reform UK-controlled council, aims to deter anti-social behavior and provide reassurance to local residents, particularly women and children.
The patrols will involve six trained security guards, with two stationed in Braintree, Chelmsford, and Colchester. According to county council leader Peter Harris, the goal is to create a visible and reassuring presence on the streets.
"Our message is simple: the safety of Essex residents comes first," Harris stated. He added that the scheme is funded by £150,000 from the "community innovation and improvement fund," with no additional cost to taxpayers or council tax.
The trial is a direct response to concerns raised by local residents about gatherings of male asylum seekers in town centers. These individuals were reportedly transported from a former military airfield, which now houses asylum seekers.
A spokesperson for the council indicated that the patrols intend to deter anti-social behavior, provide reassurance to residents and businesses, and gather evidence on whether additional support may be necessary. The site in question is Wethersfield, an airbase used for housing asylum seekers. Some local officials have expressed reservations about the approach. Chelmsford City Council leader Stephen Robinson suggested that policing should be conducted by the police, and Conservative county councillor Lee Scott noted the council would be monitoring the trial's success and impact on residents' feelings of safety.
Analysis by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford indicates that foreign nationals in England and Wales are convicted at a rate similar to British nationals, as the government does not record criminal offenses by immigration status. Despite this, Nolan, speaking to BBC Look East, stated that crimes and incidents associated with the Wethersfield site are very low and that there is no reason for concern about criminality linked to migrants from the camp.