Dispersal and face-cover bans in place for protest

A dispersal order has been imposed by Essex Police in connection with a potential demonstration against the housing of asylum seekers at a former airbase.

The force said a dispersal order was being put in place in the Braintree district on Saturday afternoon "following concerns about potential anti-social behaviour" at MDP Wethersfield.

Police added they would also be invoking a further order banning face coverings or attempts by people in the area to conceal their identity.

Both orders are in place from 13:00 BST until 10:00 on Sunday.

Ch Insp Martin Richards, district commander for Braintree and Uttlesford, said the orders were not aimed at preventing lawful and peaceful protest, but to ensure people could do so safely.

"These orders are intended to tackle anyone who plans to come here and commit crime or anti-social behaviour," he said.

"The information we have suggests there is a risk of that taking place and we are putting proactive plans in place to prevent it."

The former RAF station houses 800 men aged between 18 and 65.

Because they are seeking asylum, they are not detained but are instead asked to follow a voluntary 22:00 curfew.

In June, it was announced the number of residents would soon rise to 1,245 and the site would remain open beyond 2027.

The site was first repurposed as asylum accommodation under the Conservative government in 2023 and has continued to be used by the Labour administration.

The government has pledged to end the use of hotels for asylum seeker accommodation by 2029 and is using ex-military sites instead.

Since July 2024, the number of hotels in use has dropped from 213 to below 160.

MDP Wethersfield, which opened as an RAF base during World War Two, had been due to shut in 2027 before its provision was extended.

The Home Office said while it acknowledged some people had concerns, there was no evidence asylum seekers disproportionately affected levels of crime or anti-social behaviour.

Everyone brought into Wethersfield is screened against policing, security and immigration databases.

A factsheet on the government website added asylum seekers were not provided with clothing or mobile phones. Instead, some charities were supplying such items.

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.