politics
'Totally unacceptable!' Council leader joins furious locals in protest against 1,250 migrants being moved into RAF Barnham
WATCH: Leader of Norfolk County Council David Bick hits out at 'inappropriate' housing of migrants at RAF Barnham
TL;DR
- More than 1,000 asylum seekers are planned to be housed at the former RAF Barnham military base.
- David Bick, leader of Norfolk County Council, has strongly criticized the government's decision, calling it "totally unacceptable" and expressing concerns about the safety of the local community, particularly Thetford.
- Bick stated that the asylum seekers are "illegal immigrants" and "military-aged men" who "shouldn't be in the country in the first place."
- He believes security measures like CCTV on the base will not alleviate residents' fears, as asylum seekers may still be bussed into towns.
- The Home Office confirmed the plan as a step to close asylum hotels and move individuals into basic accommodation, aiming to reduce costs and the perception of easy entry.
- The Home Office also noted a significant reduction in asylum seeker numbers in hotels and overall asylum costs since the current government was elected.