Essex Wethersfield asylum seeker crime reports revealed

The Home Office has been operating Wethersfield Asylum Reception Centre at RAF Wethersfield since July 2023.

The decision to use the airbase as an asylum centre was criticised by residents, Braintree Council and Braintree MP James Cleverly when it was announced several years ago, after the Home Office bypassed the council through emergency permitted development rights (Class Q).

In July last year, the Home Office informed Braintree Council it planned to increased the site’s capacity to 1,245 beds, more than double its starting capacity.

Buses transport asylum seekers from the site to both Chelmsford and Braintree each week, while there is no existing bus route which takes Wethersfield residents to Braintree town centre.

Site - Wethersfield Asylum Reception Centre has been operated by the Home Office since July 2023 (Image: PA)

Protests have taken place throughout the last year in Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester and Wethersfield to campaign for the closure of the site.

One protest was attended by British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

An article published by the Daily Mail included detailed accounts of street harassment and intimidation involving asylum seekers and women in the town.

The article also alleged that the Sue Ryder charity shop in Rayne Road had been “targeted” by asylum seekers.

Responding to a request for comment, a spokesperson from Sue Ryder said of the Braintree branch: “No incidents from our shop have been reported to the police.”

Reports - There have been reports of street harassment and intimidation in Braintree by men and groups of men, some of which are believed to be perpetrated by asylum seekers (Image: Newsquest)

There have been reports on social media of street harassment, intimidation and anxiety caused by men or groups of men, which have sometimes been believed to be asylum seekers.

As of March 2026, Essex Police said since the centre opened in July 2023, 15 crimes have been recorded in Essex.

These crimes involved Wethersfield service users as the alleged perpetrator and involving members of the public as the alleged victim, which includes instances of criminal damage.

Of these, only one offence has been recorded in Braintree involving an allegation of urinating in public.

Sir James Cleverly, MP for Braintree, has continued to call for the site to be closed in April 2027, in line with the timeframe which was set out in the government’s Special Development Order.

Closure - Sir James Cleverly MP has called for the site to close and said the figures 'do not tell the whole story' (Image: PA)

Speaking to the Times, Mr Cleverly said: “I have consistently stated that Wethersfield is not an appropriate location for an asylum centre. As a local MP, I have met with and listened to residents and acted on their concerns, pushing for an enhanced police presence to help protect the community.

“15 crimes over two years is not a large number but that is still 15 too many. While this reflects the professionalism of Essex Police and site security, it should not be used to downplay the very real impact on local people.

“These figures do not tell the whole story. They do not capture the intimidation, anxiety, and disruption faced by residents, particularly those on Sculpins Lane and in the surrounding area. Those living closest to the site bear the brunt, and their concerns cannot be dismissed by statistics.

“This situation is unfair on our community and unsustainable in the long term. That is why I have called for the immediate closure of the site – and absolutely no later than the timeframe set out in the Special Development Order of April 2027.”

To report a crime – including stalking or harassment, anti-social behaviour, and hate crime – visit the report page on the Essex Police website.