Rumours and Vigilance as Crowborough Faces Potential Asylum Seeker Relocation
Crowborough training camp in East Sussex has been identified as a potential site to house up to 540 single adult male asylum seekers as part of a Home Office pledge to relocate asylum seekers from hotel accommodations before the end of the current parliament. The facility, a former military cadet training site, has not yet been confirmed for this use, with the government stating no decision has been made.
Local response to the rumours of the camp’s establishment has been marked by fear and tension. Residents have formed the Crowborough Patrol to monitor streets, emphasizing their intention to address community concerns rather than act as vigilantes. Sussex police issued a temporary section 34 dispersal notice at 21:15 to curb antisocial behaviour amid heightened police presence, which further intensified local anxieties as people awaited potential arrivals.
Misinterpretations of bus movements fueled speculation, with some residents mistakenly identifying routine service buses or other groups as transports carrying asylum seekers. Despite persistent rumours of coachloads arriving, no asylum seekers had entered Crowborough by the early hours, and most residents dispersed without confirmed arrivals that night.
The situation has also sparked a political clash. Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani accused the Liberal Democrat–Green council of cooperating with the Labour government and alleged that council leaders had misrepresented the facts. Deputy council leader Rachel Millward dismissed these accusations as fake news.
Community sentiment remains mixed. Many residents oppose the relocation plan but stress they are not motivated by racism. A march held over the weekend attracted approximately 2,000 participants, reflecting widespread concern. Meanwhile, some local voices, including a deli owner, expressed pro-immigration viewpoints, adding complexity to the community's response.
