Essex County Council is deploying private security operatives in Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford to bolster local safety measures amid an increase in capacity at the Wethersfield asylum center. The move, part of a plan named Operation Vanguard, comes as the center's capacity is set to grow by 50 percent. Council leader Peter Harris criticized the Home Office for its handling of the expansion and migrant transportation.
Harris stated that concerns for community safety, particularly among women and girls, have been raised. The Wethersfield center, a former RAF airfield, is temporarily increasing its capacity for single men from 800 to 1,245. He also questioned the adequacy of the induction process for migrants, specifically regarding their understanding of British culture and expectations of behavior towards women and girls.
"We are not prepared to sit on our hands and wait for the next incident. We are taking action," Harris said, addressing the decision to deploy security. He characterized the Wethersfield facility as a "holiday camp," noting its amenities which include a gymnasium, fitness room, football pitch, indoor sports hall, and provided mobile phones with free call allowances. Residents receive three meals daily with a variety of options, all free of charge.
The Home Office reportedly operates a fleet of 17 minibuses to transport residents from the Wethersfield site to the nearby towns and cities. The new security initiative, Operation Vanguard, will be funded by local council taxpayers and is planned to run for an initial three-month period, with two guards stationed in each of the three affected urban areas.
Braintree Council was informed by the Home Office last month that an additional 445 spaces would be made available at the Wethersfield center starting at the end of July, with a weekly cap of 60 new residents. The facility was initially established by the Conservative government in 2023 as part of efforts to reduce the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has supported plans to distribute asylum seekers more widely across the country, aiming for a "fair spread" of migrants and encouraging more affluent areas to accommodate them. The government's strategy involves utilizing a mixed model of accommodation, including military sites, former student housing, and houses in multiple occupation, with a transition period expected to ensure no single community bears an excessive burden.