Essex County Council, led by Reform UK, has deployed private security guards to town centres in Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford following concerns over gatherings of male migrants from a nearby accommodation centre. The three-month trial, named Operation Vanguard, begins Monday with six operatives patrolling the areas.
Operation Vanguard: Funding and Scope
According to Reform UK, the initiative is funded through a drawdown of up to £150,000 from a community improvement fund. The three-month trial is expected to cost approximately £118,000 plus VAT. The security guards will work between 10am and 6pm, seven days a week, to deter anti-social behaviour.
While the guards will primarily focus on areas where migrants are dropped off, a spokesperson said they will assist with other security issues if necessary. The initiative was announced in August after the Government informed Braintree District Council of plans to expand the use of the former RAF airbase Wethersfield, which houses asylum seekers, some of whom travel to surrounding areas by bus.
Council Report and Criticism
The decision has drawn criticism from local politicians, including Labour county councillor Lee Scordis. He told the Press Association: 'The council’s own report and the police tell us there is no evidence of any rise in crime from asylum seekers in Colchester. This decision is clearly driven by prejudice. We have no answers about what they will do, the powers they will have and even if the council has consulted the police on this.'
A council report titled 'Launch of Operation Vanguard' says the Home Office states 'there is no evidence of Wethersfield AAA (Airfield Asylum Accommodation) having an impact on crime levels'. The Home Office has said it would increase the site’s capacity from 800 to 1,245, and it will remain operational beyond 2027.
Reform UK's Response
According to Reform UK, the initiative came as a 'direct response to concerns raised amongst local residents, particularly women and girls, over gatherings of male migrants in town centres'. Reform UK leader of Essex County Council, Peter Harris, said: 'Today, Operation Vanguard moves from words to action. Six trained security guards, two each in Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester, will provide a visible and reassuring presence on our streets, particularly for women and children. Our message is simple: the safety of Essex residents comes first.'
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Public safety remains our first priority and we expect any criminality to be taken seriously. We work with local police to ensure the safety and security of local communities around the site, the staff who work there and those accommodated. The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms. We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, close every asylum hotel and move asylum seekers into alternative accommodation including former military sites.'
