'Vigilante group' formed as UK town braces for over 500 illegal migrants in local barracks
Residents of a quaint East Sussex town have taken matters into their own hands, forming a "vigilante" group in response to the Home Office's incendiary plans to house 500 illegal immigrants in a former Army barracks, reports The Telegraph. The Crowborough Fast Reaction Patrol has declared that their once-safe area is now "under threat."Under the Labour government's scheme, announced in October, up to 540 single, male asylum seekers are set to be housed in accommodation at the sprawling 37-acre cadet training camp. The move is part of Labour's efforts to reduce the reliance on asylum hotels, but it has been met with fierce opposition from the local community.Patrol to focus on school runs and high-risk areasThe newly formed patrol group, which carried out its inaugural patrol on Saturday, plans to concentrate its efforts on the morning and afternoon school runs. They will also be keeping a watchful eye on areas of concern, such as parks and poorly-lit streets in the evenings. Organisers say the team aims to be a "visible deterrent" to crime and will be equipped with radios to alert authorities if they witness behavior that "warrants action."Tory councillor joins patrol amidst community fearMichael Lunn, a Conservative councillor and beef farmer who has joined the patrol, told The Telegraph that the group was established in response to the fear that has gripped the community. "This is a low-crime, safe area where you can leave your door open, but that is now under threat," he said. "We are not prepared for this, the community is very fearful. Some people are feeling really anxious and worried, particularly mothers and children."Lunn pointed out that the rural children of Crowborough are not accustomed to having 540 men suddenly arriving in their town, bringing with them a "different culture." He also highlighted the lack of active CCTV and inconsistent street lighting in the area, as well as the presence of a bus stop used by schoolchildren just outside the former barracks.Responding to suggestions that councillors or the community are racist or far-right, Lunn insisted, "This has nothing to do with right-wing thuggery, this is community-led, this is us looking after ourselves."Resident warns of 'powder-keg situation'However, not everyone in Crowborough is on board with the vigilante group. One resident warned, "A bunch of vigilantes with too much time on their hands is the last thing this town needs. It is already a powder-keg situation, and what we don't need is for a self-appointed gang ready to put a flame to it. It's a provocation and should be stopped by the police."On Sunday, around 1,500 residents marched in protest against the Home Office's plans for Crowborough barracks. They argue that the area lacks the necessary infrastructure to cope with the influx of migrants and worry that the move will deprive the military of a vital training facility that serves 12,000 cadets annually.Barracks handover imminent as cadets forced outAs of Thursday night, the last of the cadets were told to pack up and leave before the change of ownership. Come Monday, the site will no longer be a Ministry of Defence base, as the Home Office prepares to take over.Weald district council has announced that it is consulting with senior barristers to explore potential legal channels to oppose the government's plans to house migrants at the barracks.Nick Jones, the founder of the Crowborough Patrol, told GB News, "Everyone is devastated by this very sudden news. It has been given very unexpectedly, we're not getting any feedback from the Home Office apart from they keep saying we haven't decided yet, apart from the fact we can see generators going in there and fencing being put up."Patrol vows to be visible presence, not confrontationalIn a social media post, the patrol stated, "Over the coming weeks and months, and who knows, maybe years, you will see us strolling around Crowborough, taking in the sights of the hotspots. We aim to be visible during the morning and afternoon school runs in term time, and as the evening sets in each day. We are not here to confront, we are here as local residents, concerned for the welfare of our town, and hopefully make a difference between unwanted activity and a peaceful place to continue living."The spokesman emphasized that all patrol members must undergo a DBS check before starting work with the group.Crowborough Shield, a grassroots organization challenging the Home Office's decision, has already raised nearly £60,000 to fund legal action against the government's plan to house illegal immigrants in the town's former Army barracks.
