Weapons and violence at asylum base, say staff

In September 2023, Some asylum seekers told the BBC they were staging a hunger strike because of conditions at Wethersfield

Security workers who say they were suddenly dismissed from their jobs at an asylum seeker accommodation centre have described conditions at the site.

Several staff say they chose not to turn up to work at MDP Wethersfield in Essex on Thursday in protest against new terms, conditions and pay.

Three of them told the BBC they were almost immediately sacked and have since described residents there being violent and possessing weapons.

The Home Office said operations continued as normal despite the walkout on Thursday.

'Parties with alcohol'

The Security Industry Federation (SIF) claimed 22 out of 31 security contractors did not show up, although the Home Office claimed it was actually "fewer than one third".

The union says government contractor Clearsprings Ready Homes is due to take over the employment of security staff at Wethersfield from Saturday.

Staff will be asked to carry out cleaning work under their new contracts, and will be paid less, the SIF says.

"When I asked that I wanted to see the contract first, that's it, I was sacked," said one former worker.

"There was no protection for security officers.

"A few were assaulted and spat on. There's no comeback when you mention it. There are no powers.

"[The asylum seekers] go out shopping, coming back with alcohol and weapons. At night they have parties with alcohol and being 20-odd security officers on site versus 1,200 asylum seekers, you can see what we're dealing with.

"We have no protection whatsoever."

The first migrants arrived at the former Ministry of Defence Police base at Wethersfield in July 2023

Another complained about a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) despite working with migrants who were due to be tested for tuberculosis (TB).

"When people complain, the company line is 'If you don't like it, then you know where the gate is'," they added.

A third described colleagues being assaulted.

"Our task is to break up the disturbances. One colleague got attacked, pushed against the wall," they explained.

They said not all residents behaved like this, but added: "There are times I have felt very vulnerable".

The BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims.

Daniel Garnham, general secretary of the SIF, said his team had been trying to "bring" Clearsprings "to the table for weeks now".

"It's clear that they don't want to know," he said.

Clearsprings did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.

The firm has a 10-year contract with the Home Office to provide services to asylum seekers.

It has faced criticism over poor living conditions and food, despite making £187m in profit since 2019.

In December 2023, the BBC was sent footage which appeared to show scuffles at Wethersfield

Residents have previously staged protests over conditions at the former RAF station.

Médecins Sans Frontières says it treats asylum seekers at Wethersfield, and in a report published in May, it said migrants had not been "appropriately screened" as to whether they were suitable for housing there.

The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration has also said there is an "overwhelming feeling of hopelessness caused by boredom" among migrants there.

Pictures taken before MDP Wethersfield opened for asylum seekers demonstrated what conditions were like

Earlier this year, Braintree District Council revealed the numbers at Wethersfield would rise to 1,245.

It has housed single male asylum seekers since July 2023.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Staff did not report to the site for various reasons [on Thursday].

"This did not have an impact on day-to-day operations of the site, which continued as normal."