Police issue ‘critical risk’ warning over plan to house asylum seekers near town

A critical police training centre is at risk of being lost under Home Office plans to house asylum seekers at a former RAF base, with senior officers warning ministers the move could seriously undermine public safety and their ability to respond to unrest. The chiefs of Suffolk and Norfolk police have urged the Government to “urgently reconsider” the timetable for converting RAF Barnham into asylum accommodation, warning the proposed schedule poses a “critical risk” to policing across the region.

In a three-page letter published by West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy, Suffolk Chief Constable Rachel Kearton and Norfolk Chief Constable Paul Sanford appealed to Policing Minister Sarah Jones to delay the plans and work with the forces on a realistic transition. The Home Office’s Asylum Accommodation Team is considering using the Ministry of Defence-owned site near Thetford to house asylum seekers after serving notice requiring police to leave the premises.

RAF Barnham has been used for years as a specialist operations training centre by Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies, as well as other police forces across the East of England.

The chiefs said the two forces had been on the verge of buying the site from the Ministry of Defence as recently as June before learning the Home Office intended to take it over for asylum accommodation, the East Anglian Daily Times reported.

According to the letter, notice was served in April and recent discussions with the Home Office suggested officers could be required to vacate the site within weeks.

Police leaders insist that timetable is impossible to achieve without damaging operational capability.

They say a minimum of four to six months would be needed to relocate specialist training, secure an alternative facility and ensure policing standards are not compromised.

A September deadline has reportedly been suggested, but the chief constables described that target as “unrealistic”.

The letter warns RAF Barnham plays a vital role in preparing specialist officers whose skills are essential to public safety and operational resilience throughout Norfolk, Suffolk and the wider Eastern region.

Losing access to the base, they argue, would disrupt established training programmes and reduce the forces’ ability to maintain critical operational skills.

The chiefs also raised concerns about the potential impact of housing asylum seekers at the site, warning the proposal could generate heightened community tensions and increase demands on police resources.

In the letter, they wrote: “We also wish to emphasise that the decision and associated timescales have already generated considerable organisational concern and we now consider the position to be a critical risk.”

They continued: “We therefore respectfully request that the Home Office urgently reconsider the proposed timeline and engage with us to determine a realistic and achievable transition plan that protects critical policing capability, safeguards public safety and ensures both Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies remain able to respond effectively to any increase in community tension, protest activity or public order demand arising from the future use of this site.”

The officers said both constabularies are preparing for a range of possible scenarios and remain committed to maintaining public confidence and community cohesion throughout the process.

However, they warned that without enough time to secure a replacement training base, their ability to respond effectively to any increase in protests, disorder or wider public order incidents linked to the site’s future use could be significantly weakened.