Crowborough couple 'under siege' as migrants move in

Phillip and Christine Straker, a retired couple living adjacent to Crowborough Training Camp, have voiced their distress, describing themselves as feeling "under siege" after asylum seekers were moved into the former military site.

Key Details of the Situation

• The Home: The Strakers live in a property directly next to the camp, where they have resided for over 20 years.
• Safety Concerns: Mrs Straker expressed that while the residents "could be lovely," she no longer feels safe walking to the bottom of her garden and feels "ignored and uninformed" by the Home Office.
• Arrival of Migrants: The first group of 27 male asylum seekers was moved into the camp in the early hours of 22 January 2026 under police escort.
• Scale of the Site: The facility is expected to eventually house more than 500 single men for up to three months at a time while their claims are processed. 

Local Reaction and Protests

The move has sparked significant local opposition and community unrest: 

• Protests: Large demonstrations have taken place, including a march on 25 January 2026 that reportedly drew thousands of attendees.
• Legal Action: Wealden District Council (WDC) is exploring a potential legal challenge against the Home Office, citing concerns over site suitability and a lack of community engagement.
• Incidents: Sussex Police confirmed three arrests following disorder outside the camp on 24 January 2026, when protesters reportedly obstructed a vehicle leaving the site. 

The government maintains that using sites like Crowborough is necessary to reduce the reliance on expensive hotels for asylum seeker accommodation.