Reform UK Council Issues 7-Word Demand to Andy Burnham Over Migrant Harassment

Essex County Council’s leader has deployed new security teams to protect locals, issuing a blunt seven-word demand to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, according to the Daily Express. The £150,000 scheme follows rising local concerns over public safety.

Essex County Council has launched a three-month security trial titled Operation Vanguard, deploying guards wearing red vests and body-worn cameras across town centres including Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford. According to the Daily Express, the initiative follows reports from women and elderly residents who feel intimidated by groups of migrants bussed into the area from the nearby MDP Wethersfield accommodation facility.

Reform UK’s leader of Essex County Council, Peter Harris, walked the high street alongside the security personnel to inspect the rollout. Speaking to the Prime Minister, Cllr Harris issued a stark demand regarding border controls and enforcement.

Stop the boats and detain and deport

— Peter Harris, Leader of Essex County Council, Daily Express

Cllr Harris further argued that authorities must keep the gates of the Wethersfield facility closed to prevent unnecessary issues in surrounding communities. However, the move has encountered a mixed local reception, with some residents questioning whether private contractors are an adequate substitute for regular police officers.

• Operation Vanguard is funded through a £150,000 drawdown from a community improvement fund.
• Guards patrol Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford town centres during the trial period.
• Migrants are regularly bussed into surrounding areas from the Wethersfield accommodation site.
• Local residents and passers-by expressed a divided response, ranging from support to vocal opposition during high street patrols.

The Home Office has previously defended its use of military bases for asylum accommodation, stating that managed sites are necessary, while local councils continue to grapple with community integration and public order pressures.

Original source: Read the full report at Daily Express