If you chance across the East Sussex town of Crowborough on a Sunday morning, you will see hundreds of protesters waving Union Jacks and St George’s flags.
Every week, people have been marching against Home Office plans to house 540 male asylum seekers at a former army training camp just outside it.
The backlash against the arrival of these migrants has been a staple in the media for weeks – but Metro can reveal the darker side to these angry demos.
Those who have spoken out in support of the asylum seekers say they have been threatened, intimidated and ‘forcibly quietened down’ on social media.
While a number of people were too scared to share their stories with Metro, some locals have detailed how hysteria has gripped Crowborough and left many scared to even venture into town.
Aaron Stevens, 37, claims he knows of people who have faced death or acid attacks threats because they’ve tried to counter ‘far-right’ posts on local
Facebook pages.
The dad-of-four told Metro: ‘People have had threats made to themselves and their households and their families.
‘It’s stark how many people have changed their names on Facebook who have spoken up in opposition to the current narrative and rhetoric.
‘One of the reasons why I’ve come forward is that it’s an echo chamber in the local groups now. Anyone who’s shown to put up resistance has been forcibly quietened down.’
One of those threatened is Andy (not his real name), who has had to change all his social media profiles to protect himself after challenging people who are critical of the Home Office plans.
After trying to drum up support for a volunteer group to help the asylum seekers,
he claims he was warned ‘we’ll rape your wife so that you know what it’s like when it happens to one of us.’
Andy, who helps to run a local group to support refugees, added: ‘We are being attacked for being kind. They have been extremely threatening.
‘They will verbally abuse and swear and say dreadful things online to women who offer a kinder perspective.
‘Members of our group have been threatened and a few of them have had their houses intimidated.
‘When you go into town there is almost this hysteria. You get people shouting at you that they are going to rape all the children and the schools need to go into lockdown.’
He says he’s heard of one person who has had vibration alarms and kick-proof doors put in due to the threats they’ve faced.
Metro has been shown intimidating comments and messages that some have received on social media.
One woman, too scared to speak publicly, was told ‘you are a traitor’ and
‘let me know when one of these illegals decide to rape you and I’ll get my phone out and make sure it goes on Facebook.’
Both Mr Stevens and Andy say the protest movement has been ‘hijacked by outsiders that aren’t part of the town’.
Caroline Coxon, 70, says the online intimidation means she is scared to venture in Crowborough.
She has doggedly responded to posts and comments on Facebook groups which she says promote false or racist information about asylum seekers.
After doing that, she said someone revealed her identity and posted it online.
‘I was quite upset and worried. But I thought to myself, “Well either, I can run and hide or I can just stand up and be counted.” And I decided I would do that,’ she said.
‘It just upsets me that they are grouped in such a way because of the crimes committed by a very few.’
‘I don’t want to go into Crowborough shopping anymore. It’s that bad.’
One anonymous Crowborough resident, who works to support charities helping refugees, says she is also terrified to venture into town due to the febrile atmosphere.
She told Metro: ‘When we supported Ukrainians, we were well supported by the local community. People were tripping over themselves to provide support.
‘But as this news was announced, I immediately felt like a stone had dropped in my stomach.
‘After the first protest I went into a supermarket and I had a panic attack and felt really emotional.
‘I was looking around these people and I didn’t know who was looking at me with hostility. It was an awful feeling.’
She’s hoping to welcome the migrants into Crowborough and provide a more positive face for the town.
‘You don’t have to be happy about them coming, you just have to be kind’, she added.
‘If they are in our town, let’s be compassionate and make their stay as comfortable as possible.’
Those who Metro spoke to say they are working hard to support the asylum seekers if they do arrive.
Mr Stevens, who won the Red Cross’ Henry Dunant medal for his work helping those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, says a
silent majority of residents want to welcome the asylum seekers.
He is in the process of setting up a community interest company to work with charities and help the men settle in and feel welcome.
He explained: ‘We need to try and make the best of the situation, rather than meeting people with hatred.
‘
We want to provide support be kind. Our group is apolitical. We want to provide care for them as we did previously for Ukrainians.’
Andy is continuing his own efforts, running collection drives to gather clothes and other resources to give to the asylum seekers.
They hope to aid charities in their work support asylum seekers with their mental health, legal procedures as well as run drop-in session.
The Home Office outlined plans to use the army camp in Crowborough as part of efforts to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.
Last week, the Crowborough Shield residents’ group requested a judicial review, claiming the plans breach ‘common law rights to justice and procedural fairness’.
However the Home Office has previously defended the move, saying: ‘We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.
‘Moving to large military sites is an important part of our reforms to tackle illegal migration and the pull factors that make the UK an attractive destination.
‘
We are continuing to accelerate plans to move people into Crowborough when the site is fully operational and safe.’
The last group of cadets has packed up and moved out of the training camp and the site has now ceased to be a Ministry of Defence base.
