WDC sent a letter to the Home Office on Friday, November 14. According to the letter, homeowners are “considerably concerned” about the idea, as are “other bodies that may be affected.” The letter continued: “The Council is concerned about the planning implications of the Proposal.”

It stated: “If the Proposal is implemented, it is likely to have a significant impact on residents of the Council’s area, the Council itself, and other bodies that may be affected.” As a result, any decision to proceed with the Proposal must be implemented with as much advance warning as possible.”

The Home Office released a fact sheet at According to the information sheet, the UK government has a statutory commitment to provide housing for asylum seekers who would otherwise be homeless.

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system, ensuring that it runs efficiently, forcefully, and fairly, and that the rules are appropriately enforced. We aim to quit hotels as soon as possible and need to establish suitable new accommodations.

The MoD has offered the land to the Home Office for 12 months, after which it will be returned to the MoD as part of their estate.”

According to the data sheet, Crowborough Training Camp offers ‘basic, safe accommodation for asylum seekers and is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible’. It said further:

“The site was recently used as transitional accommodation for the Afghan Resettlement Programme.” According to the data sheet, the location will accept “single adult male asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65.” It also stated that public safety’remains our primary concern’ and that all asylum applicants would face’mandatory security inspections’.

According to the fact sheet, all asylum claimants must undergo mandatory security tests to prove their identity and link it to their biometric information for immigration, security, and criminality checks.

This includes criminality checks against databases that contain information such as convictions, pending prosecutions, wanted or missing reports, fingerprints, and pictures. It stated:

“We will collaborate closely and routinely with Sussex Police to ensure suitable security arrangements are in place for the protection and security of asylum seekers and the wider community.

The Home Office also maintains regular contact with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the police, and local partners, including through Multi Agency Forums pre-delivery and post-Go Live of the site, to address the concerns of those most affected by the site and identify ways to keep them informed.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne has stated that she will interview Sussex Police chief officers during her regular Performance & Accountability Meeting (PAM) on Thursday, November 20.

She stated that the main focus would be on the Home Office’s choice to use the old army training camp for asylum seekers.

Before the meeting, PCC Katy Bourne stated, “I understand that many residents in Crowborough and the surrounding areas are understandably concerned about the impact this decision may have on their community.”

“I will ask the Chief Constable to provide assurances about public safety and policing plans, as well as how Sussex Police will collaborate with partners to address any challenges.” It’s important to ensure locals that their concerns are heard and addressed.

As soon as I learnt about the Crowborough site plans, I wrote to the Home Secretary and the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, pointing out that the site had previously been deemed unsuitable by the Home Office under the previous Conservative Government, as well as expressing local residents’ dismay and anger at the lack of public consultation and safety concerns.”