Crime linked to asylum centre very low, says chief

5 hours ago

Shivani ChaudhariEssex

News image — Rachel Nolan has become the first female chief constable in Essex Police's 186-year history

John Fairhall/BBC Rachel Nolan wears a white shirt and black tie, with a black hat stitched with the blue and red Essex Police crest. She is outside, with a grass lawn and a possibly Victorian bricked building behind her. — Rachel Nolan has become the first female chief constable in Essex Police's 186-year history

The new chief constable at Essex Police has said crime linked to the large asylum accommodation in the county is "very low".

Rachel Nolan said there was "absolutely no reason" for anyone to be concerned about possible criminality associated with MDP Wethersfield in north Essex.

Her comments followed Essex County Council's decision to fund security guards in the areas that these asylum seekers visit during the day.

Nolan started the job on 1 September and became the force's first female chief constable in its 186-year history.

"Crimes and incidents associated with the Wethersfield site are very low," said Nolan, speaking to BBC Look East presenter Susie Fowler-Watt.

"Certainly as far as I've seen there is absolutely no reason for anyone to be concerned about criminality associated with migrants from the Wethersfield camp in Essex."

PA Media An aerial shot of the housing blocks at an airbase. Four rectangular accommodation blocks can be seen, surrounded by grass, trees and roads. There are agricultural fields in the background. — The former RAF base has become a temporary home for about 800 asylum seekers, with all men aged between 18 and 65

The council has said it will draw down £150,000 from a community fund to pay for security guards in Chelmsford, Colchester and Braintree.

The Reform UK administration has called it Operation Vanguard, which will be a three-month trial.

Residents at MDP Wethersfield are taken on buses to those locations each day to access amenities.

The former RAF base has been used to house single male migrants since 2023 and the government plans to increase the number of people accommodated there from about 800 to 1,220.

"This is very much an Essex County Council initiative, I have no concerns around the policing of that area and particular communities in that area or indeed concerns with our capacity to deal with anything," said Nolan.

"The additionality that has been placed on policing is relatively light."

She continued: "[The security officers] are not working as part of policing.

"I've equated it to security guards in a shopping centre for example or other areas where people provide guidance and reassurance."

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Nolan also said she planned to build on the force's work on preventing other crime and anti-social behaviour.

Ben-Julian Harrington, the former chief, announced his retirement after 36 years of policing in May.

Speaking to the BBC, she said "a lot of challenges are still the same" since she first walked through the doors of Canvey Island police station 28 years ago.

"But there are some that are quite different, like the complexity of crime and the expectations that people have."