A quiet East Sussex town is at the centre of a fierce dispute after plans were revealed to house 600 lone male asylum seekers at a local army camp, sparking alarm among residents over community safety.
School's 'Be Kind' Message Sparks Parental Fury
The controversy intensified when parents discovered that a nearby secondary school and sixth form had held an assembly encouraging pupils to be 'kind and caring' towards the new arrivals. The news, which locals only learned about after it was leaked to a newspaper, has left many feeling their concerns are being ignored.
At a packed public meeting held at the Crowborough community centre, one resident, William Penfold, voiced the anger felt by many: ‘Last week, [they] held an assembly and told the children to be kind and caring to the immigrants coming, illegal immigrants. Weren't we raised to be careful of strangers? Are they expecting us, our children, to talk to them? This is completely wrong.’
A parent named Ben expressed deep anxiety about the impact on children's freedom, questioning, ‘How can our children enjoy their freedom when there are 600 unvetted young men wandering around the town?'
Home Office Official Confronted at Heated Meeting
Residents directly challenged Home Office director of asylum accommodation, Andrew Larter, at the meeting, demanding answers on how the government intends to manage the influx, which will increase the town's population of 20,000 by 3%.
Concerns over safety were paramount, with residents citing recent press cases like that of asylum seeker and convicted sex offender Hadush Kebatu, who assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Essex. One resident pointedly asked how the authorities planned to meet the 'sexual needs of 600 men', to which Mr Larter bluntly replied, ‘I don’t.’
Wealden District Councillor Andrew Wilson told the official he was ‘appalled’ at the plans, stating the Home Office had 'failed the community'. He demanded personal responsibility from Mr Larter for any subsequent incidents.
In a moment that fuelled further frustration, Mr Larter admitted that if he were in the residents' position, he would be 'sitting alongside' them, holding officials to account.
Community Backlash and Ongoing Protests
The planned use of the Crowborough Army Training Camp, which previously housed Afghan families in 2021, has mobilised the community. On Sunday, the town held a protest, with campaigners raising money for a potential legal challenge to stop the plan.
Guards with dogs have already been seen patrolling the site, where a secondary security fence has been erected. The full security team is expected to be in place within the next week, ahead of the first arrivals scheduled for January.
Beyond immediate safety, locals are worried about the increased pressure on already stretched public services, particularly healthcare and schools, and the potential impact on local house prices. The Home Office has stated that while most primary healthcare will be delivered on-site, asylum seekers will be registered with local GPs.
As tension mounts, the community of Crowborough awaits the Home Office's next move, determined to protect what they see as the sanctity and safety of their town.
