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In a recent interview with BBC Look East presenter Susie Fowler-Watt, Nolan addressed concerns related to the Wethersfield site by stating, “Crimes and incidents associated with the Wethersfield site are very low.” He emphasized that, based on his observations, “there is absolutely no reason for anyone to be concerned about criminality associated with migrants from the Wethersfield camp in Essex.”
Peter Harris, the county council leader, outlined plans to enhance community safety by deploying six trained security guards spread across Braintree, Chelmsford, and Colchester. He explained, “Two each in Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester, will provide a visible and reassuring presence on our streets, particularly for women and children.” Harris concluded by affirming the council’s priorities: “Our message is simple: the safety of Essex residents comes first.”
In contrast, some local politicians have expressed reservations about the initiative. David King, a senior Liberal Democrat county councillor, voiced concerns that the scheme “risks divisions and community tension.” He noted that the new security officers might face challenges, saying, “It could only work if the security officers integrated with already established arrangements,” emphasizing that “they won’t know the place, they won’t know the people, they won’t be connected up.” Similarly, Stephen Robinson from Chelmsford City Council, also a Liberal Democrat, stressed the importance of police-led enforcement, stating, “I think it’s really important that we don’t create division and that policing is carried out by the police.” Conservative county councillor Lee Scott took a more cautious stance, saying, “We’re not opposing it, but we are in the future looking at it to see if it’s succeeding and making people feel safe.”
The government does not track criminal offenses based on immigration status directly. However, an analysis by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford found that foreign nationals in England and Wales face conviction rates similar to those of British nationals. Responding to local concerns—especially those of women and girls—regarding groups of male migrants gathering in town centers after being transported from the former military airfield, the council initiated this trial. According to a spokesperson, the initiative “intends to deter anti-social behaviour, provide reassurance to residents and businesses, and gather evidence about whether additional support may be required.” The project is set to be funded by £150,000 drawn from the community innovation and improvement fund, with no additional cost to taxpayers or any rise in council tax
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