The town where Thursday’s a ‘no-go day’ for women: Locals blame bussed-in migrants for wolf-whistling schoolgirls, theft and violence – while far-Right agitators fan the flames: FRED KELLY
Residents and traders in Braintree, Essex, say Thursdays have become uncomfortable because men from the nearby Wethersfield asylum accommodation site are brought into town, with some alleging harassment of women, petty theft and intimidating behaviour. The article also reports that far-right activists confront and film asylum seekers in public, contributing to tension and disorder; Essex County Council has announced additional town-centre security under Operation Vanguard.
Wethersfield, a former RAF base 12 miles from Braintree, currently houses about 800 men awaiting asylum decisions and is due to expand to 1,245 places beyond 2027. The site is run for the Home Office by Clearsprings Ready Homes, and the report cites one recent assault conviction involving a resident, alongside local complaints affecting Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford. The claims about widespread misconduct are presented mainly through residents’ accounts, while the article frames the situation as part of wider divisions over asylum accommodation.
- Residents report tensions linked to asylum-seeker minibuses visiting Braintree.
- Far-right confrontations are also said to worsen public disorder.
- Wethersfield’s capacity is planned to rise from 800 to 1,245.