"Among the crowded shelves of Sacred Heart hardware store in Crowborough, there is a gap on the wall where the kitchen knives used to be displayed. As the local rumour of recent days goes, that space is linked to the news story of the moment in the East Sussex town: the imminent arrival of hundreds of asylum seekers at a nearby military training camp."
"It is typical of the confusion and apprehension in the town of about 22,000 people, where local people are fighting plans to house up to 540 single adult male asylum seekers at Crowborough training camp, a site used for the training of military cadets. The location was identified as part of a Home Office pledge to remove asylum seekers from hotel accommodation before the end of this parliament."
"Though the government says no decision has been made on Crowborough, some people are already preparing for what they see as an incursion on their quiet town. They are doing everything they can to stop it. Accusations of vigilantism have been levelled at the community after a group set up to patrol the streets wearing hats and hi-vis vests made national news. Outside Waitrose on Tuesday night, three members of Crowborough Patrol are keen to distance themselves from this vigilante label."
Local shop displays have been altered after staff were asked by police to remove kitchen knives, amid rumours linking the move to the planned arrival of asylum seekers at a nearby military training camp. Up to 540 single adult men could be housed at Crowborough training camp, a site used for military cadet training, as part of a Home Office pledge to clear hotel accommodation before the end of parliament. The government says no decision has been made, but residents express confusion and apprehension and are mounting opposition. A volunteer group, Crowborough Patrol, has begun street patrols and rejects accusations of vigilantism.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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