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Operation Vanguard: Essex Council Deploys Private Security Guards in Town Centres
Explore Essex's Operation Vanguard trial, private security patrols, community pushback, and the local debate on asylum expansion
Synopsis: This article examines Essex County Council’s controversial three-month pilot scheme, Operation Vanguard, which deploys private security guards in Braintree, Colchester, and Chelmsford following the RAF Wethersfield asylum centre’s expansion. It highlights the division between local officials seeking precautionary public reassurance and critics warning against potential migrant stigmatisation amid stable crime rates.
The council has started a three-month pilot scheme, Operation Vanguard, which involves six private security officers being stationed in town centres in Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford. The sight of the patrols, two guards at each site from 10 am to 6 pm every day, is meant to give residents reassurance in the midst of the RAF Wethersfield asylum centre’s expansion. It has been met with mixed responses, with officials saying it was a precautionary measure and is being funded from existing council reserves, but critics, including police and migrant rights groups, say it could be seen as stigmatising migrants despite there being no evidence that crime rates have increased.
New visible patrols. Operation Vanguard is a new security initiative by Essex County Council in reaction to reports of groups of men visiting various towns in the county, from the nearby Wethersfield asylum centre. Two operatives from each area in uniform will patrol agreed routes every day, the council says. The guards are uniformed with identifiable vests, licensed and trained by the Security Industry Authority in safeguarding and conflict management by My Local Bobby. They operate on a three-month trial, 10 am to 6 pm daily, with support from a community innovation funding of £150,000. Most importantly, these operatives are NOT police officers and lack arrest powers; all police powers stay with Essex Police.
Trial Details and Context
The patrolling in Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford is designed to complement Home Office plans to put up more asylum-seekers at RAF Wethersfield in Braintree. Wethersfield started accepting asylum seekers in 2023 and plans to add an extra 445 bedspaces to make up to 1,245. The government has allocated up to 17 minibuses a day to move some of the residents of the site to these towns for appointments and shopping. Cllr Peter Harris, who is the leader of Essex Council, says Operation Vanguard is proactive policing to safeguard women and children on the streets and will give a ‘visible and reassuring presence’ and deter anti-social behaviour.
All security operatives are SIA-licensed and trained in de-escalation, the press release said. The council and provider stress, however, that they do not have any additional legal power. My Local Bobby’s area manager said guards had no powers to make citizens’ arrests unless they witnessed a crime being committed, and Essex County Council states, “All criminal matters are the responsibility of the police.”
Public Reaction and Oversight
This operation has come under fire from police, politicians and local organisations. Essex Police say town centres in Colchester, Chelmsford and Braintree are already safe thanks to the drop in crime levels. The force says it routinely patrols these areas and has a dedicated unit operating around Wethersfield, suggesting the new private patrols are in addition. A report from the council admits that the Home Office says “there is no evidence of Wethersfield [asylum accommodation] having an impact on crime levels.”
Opposition councillors and campaigners suspect the project will cause more damage than good. When “they haven’t been a problem” for police, this is “giving the impression that the residents of the Wethersfield camp are a problem,” warned a Colchester refugee charity. The patrols could “stoke fear” and perpetuate stereotypes of migrants, critics say. A Labour county councillor also said the decision “is definitely a big prejudice” and that “there’s no evidence of any order breaking in the public by asylum seekers, nor any call from the police.” Others suggest any safety concerns would be better addressed by conventional policing or community projects, rather than private patrols.
However, others in the area voice their approval of “visible security”. Perspective Media says there was a mixed reaction, with one Braintree resident stating that the fact there were guards there was “a good thing” and made her feel better. The council calls the pilot a test to collect evidence of whether “more support may be needed” in these town centres as the Wethersfield population rises. At the very least, the programme helps highlight a fierce debate about asylum policy and community safety in Essex.
FAQs
How much authority do these security guards have?
They are not police; they are private. They can be assigned to areas of the public and report incidents, but they lack arrest powers and special enforcement powers. Like any citizen, they can come in between or make a citizen’s arrest if they see a crime, but all formal police work is undertaken by Essex Police.
Is this trial legal and officially approved?
Yes. The scheme has been formally approved by Essex County Council, which has agreed to use £150,000 from its Community Innovation Fund for the trial. The security company and its employees have all the necessary licences from the Security Industry Authority. These council-funded patrols are allowed in public places, but not under the guise of police work or as violators of the law.
Does this mean migrants are banned or targeted?
No. Patrols will not bar anyone from entering town centres. Wethersfield Asylum Seekers are permitted to visit appointments and go shopping within the local communities (which is usually organised by the Council). Operation Vanguard is not targeting any specific group of asylum seekers but any anti-social behaviour, officials say, though critics worry it could unfairly stigmatise the group.
Could other councils copy this approach?
At this time, it is a pilot project for the Essex Region. No other local authority has introduced a similar scheme as yet. If Essex County Council considers the trial a success, they may look at introducing similar visible-security schemes in other areas, but no council would be granted permission to do so without individual applications.
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