BUT senior The chief of police admitted that the officers are consulting with counter-terrorism experts on threats from the extreme right military base in North Yorkshire, where the Home Office plans to locate house 1500 asylum seekers.
Thursday night meeting of residents in in small village of linton-on- Uze said that first people were due to move in in less than two weeks. Chief Inspector for Hambleton and Richmondshire, David Hunter also acknowledged at the meeting that the police are being assisted with advice from the Northeast Counter Terrorism Unit on training for threat of extreme right-wing activities that could put asylum seekers in risk.
Officials of the Ministry of the Interior, together with with their subcontractors Serco who will manage the placement, attended the meeting of Linton Parish Council will answer questions about plans from concerned villagers and agitators. About 10 far-right protesters gathered. outside but they were denied entry by the police.
Asylum seekers are held in other military barracks like Penally in Wales, which is now closed, and Napier in Kent was harassed by far-right demonstrators.
The Ministry of the Interior is planning move 1500 asylum seekers in military base, and former RAF station that closed in 2020,in a village that has just 700 inhabitants. first 60 people due to move in on May 31.
Villagers and activists who oppose plans launched campaign against home Office using slogan “wrong plan, wrong place”.
On Wednesday evening the Conservative-controlled North Yorkshire County Council passed vote of No confidence in Ministry of the Interior “due to lack of of consultation of local communities and stakeholders”.
At a parish council meeting on On Thursday evening, residents were told that there would be security on base gate and increased police presence in village from 8:30 to midnight seven days a week.
Officials of the Ministry of the Interior who attended the meeting, said there would be interagency forums and subgroups for local people to raise concerns. home secretary Prity Patel, also visit to hear their concerns, it was said at the meeting.
Hunter said in response to the question of police readiness for far-right activity on the website: “Northeast counterterrorism squads help us and counseling us”.
Nicola David, Chairman of Ripon City of Sanctuary and member of linton-on-Ouse action group told Interior Ministry officials at the meeting: “You treat asylum seekers like animals, like pawns in your political game”.
