Home Office busses first migrants into army camp under the cover of darkness – as it goes ahead with plan to house 540 male asylum seekers there despite protests

The first group of migrants to be housed in a controversial former army barracks were transported by buses under cover of night.

A total of 27 male illegal immigrants arrived at the camp in Crowborough in minibuses accompanied by police in the early hours of Thursday morning.

It comes as the Home Office decided to move forward with a plan to house 540 refugees at the centre, despite months of protests from angry locals.

The asylum seekers will be held there for up to three months until their claims are processed. Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said ‘Crowborough is just the beginning’ and the move will help the government close migrant hotels.

But town residents fighting to prevent the plans from moving forward have vowed to continue fighting against the ‘illegal’ decision to open the camp.

Campaign group Crowborough Shield ‘disgracefully’ accused Ms Mahmood of failing to attend the judicial review and said they hoped to take action against the plan in the courts.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the decision as ‘another day of shame for the Labor government’ and said women and children in the town could be at risk of ‘rape, sexual assault and even murder’ from detainees.

Residents have been taking to the streets every Sunday for months, insisting that the migrant camp would threaten the safety and well-being of people living nearby.

Wealdon District Council leader James Partridge said the government had refused to listen to residents’ concerns and ‘we feel strongly that this was the wrong decision’. He said the council was also considering taking the government to court over the plans.

The coach was assisted by a police escort just after 3am this morning.

Beds at Crowborough Training Camp now accommodate male refugees

Shower at Crowborough military barracks currently used to house immigrants

Mr Partridge said: ‘The Home Office has decided to make Crowborough Army Camp available as a temporary location for asylum seekers.

‘I told the Minister we felt strongly that this was the wrong decision. Mr. Minister did not listen to any of us despite our harsh objections. The camp is expected to open in the coming days.

‘So what will happen next? There are two urgent points. First, we contacted our legal team and asked them to review the decision to see if there was any way we could legally challenge the decision.

We know this is a long shot, but we have been researching the Home Office throughout the process to see if we can find a way to bring successful legal action. We will take action if our lawyers advise that there is a reasonable chance of success.

‘Secondly, we must accept that the probability of the camp opening is very high. ‘While we know many people will be angry, scared and worried about this, we will need to find a way to make the most of it.’

This comes just days after the latest protest by hundreds of residents who took to the streets on Sunday to stop the plans moving forward.

They gathered outside the old barracks before marching through the town, holding banners reading ‘Crowborough says no’.

Shadow Home Secretary Mr Philip described the arrival of migrants to the camp as ‘another day of shame’ for the Labor government.

‘Housing illegal immigrants costs £4bn a year and they pose a threat to local communities up and down the country,’ he said.

‘We have seen hundreds of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in shelters, including rape, sexual assault and even murder.

‘Now Crowborough’s women and children will also be exposed to these risks.’

Outside the interview room at Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex

Room inside the military barracks to accommodate male refugees

Exterior of one of the buildings at the Crowborough training camp for immigrants

Tables and chairs in common area at army barracks in Sussex

The Tory frontrunner added: ‘This facility was used for training 6,000 army and RAF cadets each year, as well as police and fire training.

‘They are all now deported for harboring illegal immigrants.

‘Only the Conservatives have a plan to deal with this: leave the European Convention on Human Rights and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of their arrival.

‘Then the boats will stop and we won’t need to house tens of thousands of illegal immigrants.’

Campaigners have raised concerns about the plans, arguing that the decision to start moving migrants into the camp is illegal.

Kim Bailey, chair of the Crowborough Shield campaign, said the group hoped to take action following the decision.

In a statement he said: ‘Together with our legal team we will consider the possibility of obtaining an injunction to prevent occupation (or further occupation) of the site and in any event we will proceed with our judicial review, which the Home Secretary shamefully did not properly participate in.

‘The grossly inadequate, dishonest and biased Screening Order that must be issued to support the Home Secretary’s decision clearly supports our claim that this entire scheme is unlawful.

‘We plan to continue prosecuting the Home Secretary.’

A crowd of campaigners took to the streets of Crowborough waving flags for the 12th consecutive week on Sunday

Angry locals have been marching in the Sussex town every Sunday since the announcement

Accommodation at Crowborough has 24/7 security with CCTV and resident logins.

They will also complete health and police checks before arriving at the base.

Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said: ‘Illegal immigration puts huge pressure on communities.

‘That’s why we’re removing the incentives that attract illegal immigrants to the UK, and closing the asylum hotels that disrupt communities.

‘Crowborough is just the beginning. I will bring up every place until every asylum hotel is closed and returned to local communities.

‘I will not rest until order and control are restored at our borders.’

The latest figures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs show that the number of refugees temporarily accommodated in hotels increased by 13 percent to 36 thousand 273 at the end of September.