Fear and Night Vigils in East Sussex over Rumoured Asylum Camp at Crowborough
A rumour circulated that up to 540 single adult male asylum seekers would be housed at Crowborough training camp, a cadet training site in East Sussex. The government stated that no decision had been made, with the Home Office pledging to move asylum seekers from hotels before the end of Parliament.
In response, locals organised the Crowborough Patrol, wearing hi-vis jackets to monitor the area. The group claimed their aim was to deter crime and reassure the community, emphasizing that they are not vigilantes and possess limited powers.
Sussex police issued a temporary Section 34 dispersal order at 21:15 to curb antisocial behaviour amid tense scenes and uncertainty over who would move in. There were claims of imminent arrivals, including reports of buses carrying asylum seekers; however, a councillor later clarified that the observed buses were routine and related to Scientologists travelling to East Grinstead, not asylum seekers.
A flag-waving march of roughly 2,000 participants highlighted local anxiety. Residents stressed that they are not inherently racist but oppose the plan to relocate asylum seekers to their town.
Political fallout ensued, with Conservative critics targeting the Lib Dem-Green council and its cooperation with the Labour government. Nusrat Ghani accused Deputy Leader Rachel Millward of spreading misinformation, while Millward countered by accusing Ghani of irresponsibly spreading fake news.
By night’s end, there had been no confirmed arrival of asylum seekers. Most people left the area, and authorities maintained a heightened police presence amid continuing uncertainty.
