Chants of “Starmer out” were heard by mothers who rallied on Sunday against plans for 540 male asylum seekers to be housed at a former army camp in East Sussex.
About 2,000 people gathered for the protest against the Government’s plans for migrant accommodation in Crowborough.
Demonstrators carried Union Jacks and St George’s crosses as well as placards with slogans “Protect Us. Protect our children”.
The town has a population of roughly 21,000.
Private security guards were required to step in during a public meeting on Thursday which saw local politicians chased out of the community centre hall.
According to The Times, some residents claim to have installed panic alarms in their homes.
Others have shared concerns about asylum seekers being able to register with local GPs - while people in the town are struggling to book an appointment.
Crowborough Shield’s Kim Bailey, who is the Chairwoman of the grassroots organisation said: “It’s absurd what they are doing. Vulnerable men from war-torn countries, to Crowborough?”
Crowborough residents pictured at a previous protest earlier this month
| GB NEWS“You have the police firearms training centre and a public shooting range right there,” she added.
“People with PTSD who will be hearing gunshots all the time will be triggered by it and they are going to try to escape that environment.”
Ms Bailey said “these are unvetted men” and the community does not know who they are.
“This is a very rural area, surrounded by trees and forest,” she added.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex has been chosen as a site by the Government
| PA“If crime were to happen, they are going to go unheard.”
Ms Bailey also said the camp was unsafe.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she plans to announce reforms to the asylum system.
That includes removing the right to housing and weekly allowances and a 20-year wait for people to apply for permanent settlement.
Ms Bailey dismissed the reports.
She said 20 years “sounds reasonable”.
“But it won’t make any difference to our current situation,” the Chairwoman added.
“It won’t make any difference to what happens here.”
The grassroots organisation has raised more than £12,000 in order to fund legal action against the Home Office.
Wealden District Council has blamed the Home Office for an “information vacuum” which it claims has fuelled community tension and subsequent threats against local councillors.
The Home Office apologised for how it handled plans but said the move to house asylum seekers at military sites was part of the Government’s promise to end the use of hotels by the next General Election.
Ms Bailey said: “We do not believe them”.
She questioned why the Government was “spending millions” if it was only going to be only for 12 months”.
The Home Office told The Times that all residents will be subject to mandatory security checks and that “as part of their induction process, clear expectations are set out to asylum seekers staying at the site about their expected behaviour while on and off the site”.