In a move that has sparked both praise and criticism, the first group of asylum seekers have been relocated to a former army training camp in East Sussex. The 27 migrants, who arrived under the cover of darkness early on Thursday morning, are the first to be housed at the Crowborough military barracks as part of the Labour government’s plan to shut down controversial migrant hotels.
The Home Office has stated that they hope to scale up the number of asylum seekers at the Crowborough site to 540 in the coming weeks. The individuals will be housed there for up to three months while their claims are processed, with assurances from local councillors that the facility will only be used for a year.
This relocation effort is part of the government’s broader strategy to move asylum seekers away from expensive hotel accommodations and into larger, more cost-effective sites. However, the decision has faced significant backlash from local authorities and community groups, who argue that the Crowborough barracks are unsuitable for housing hundreds of asylum seekers.
Wealden District Council’s lead councillor for governance, James Partridge, has said that the Home Office “hasn’t listened to any of us” and that the council is seeking legal advice to challenge the government’s decision. Crowborough Town Council has also expressed its concerns, stating that the proposed accommodation of up to 540 adult men is “disproportionate” and raises “serious concerns about suitability, capacity and impact.”
The controversy has extended to the political sphere, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemning the move as “another day of shame for the Labour government.” Philp claimed that the decision would prevent thousands of army and RAF cadets from using the site for training and argued that the “women and children of Crowborough” would be exposed to risks from the asylum seekers.
Refugee advocates, however, have criticised the use of military-style accommodations, with Imran Hussain of the Refugee Council stating that such facilities “separate people who have fled persecution and violence in countries like Afghanistan from communities and essential services, leaving them unable to integrate.” Ann Salter, the head of clinical services at the charity Freedom from Torture, has also warned that placing survivors of torture in these types of settings can “undermine their ability to recover” and “only intensify anxiety, panic and hopelessness.”
As the debate over the use of the Crowborough barracks continues, the Home Office has stated that strict security measures, including 24/7 specialist security and CCTV, will be in place to manage the site. However, the ongoing controversy highlights the complex and often contentious nature of the UK’s approach to housing and processing asylum seekers.
