More police patrols due to asylum seeker plans

Home Office figures show there are plans to house 540 male asylum seekers at the Crowborough site - a scheme which has sparked protests

Police have increased "reassurance patrols" in an East Sussex town where there are plans to house up to 600 asylum seekers at a former military site.

The Home Office has outlined plans to use an army camp in Crowborough as part of efforts to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.

The proposal sparked protests and opposition from Wealden District Council, which has backed a motion to formally oppose the scheme.

Sussex Police chief constable Jo Shiner said neighbourhood officers were providing "wider community reassurance" adding: "We're increasing our reassurance patrols, there's just more visibility in the town centre."

"Our PCSOs are out and about," she told Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne at a performance and accountability meeting on Thursday.

Ms Shiner said the force aimed to respond "effectively, proportionately, with impartiality" to any incidents.

"Our priorities haven't changed around keeping people safe," she said.

She said the force is developing a policing plan to be deployed should the asylum seekers arrive as planned.

She added that she and assistant chief constable Rosie Ross visited Crowborough on Wednesday to speak to residents and businesses.

"It's easy to read a document of plans, but to actually go and make sure that those plans are actually going to meet reality, I think is incredibly important," she said.

In terms of additional funding for policing, Ms Shiner said the force is currently "finalising that bid that will go to the Home Office", which should be finished on Friday.

Acknowledging community concerns, she said Sussex Police has a "really good, solid, command structure in place".

"It's well practised, it's well exercised. I have every confidence in Rosie [Ross] and the other commands within that structure, that we will adapt and build and do what we need to, to keep our communities safe," she said.

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