Thames Valley PCC calls for government to fund policing of MOD Bicester asylum centre
Matthew Barber says the site could cost the force an extra £1.7 million a year during construction
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley has called on the government to fully fund the extra policing costs he says would come with housing 1,256 asylum seekers at MOD Bicester.
In a letter to the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Matthew Barber said Thames Valley Police expects additional demand from policing protests around the site as well as providing neighbourhood policing if the accommodation becomes occupied.
He said the force estimates additional costs could reach around £1.7 million a year during the construction phase, should planning permission be granted.
The figure includes an estimated £210,000 a year to manage protest activity if it continues at its current rate, as well as a potential £1.2 million cost for a dedicated protest policing team if demonstrations disrupt construction.
Mr Barber also said the equivalent population increase would ordinarily generate around £281,000 a year in council tax for policing, which he said could help fund a small neighbourhood team.
He said: “I am extremely concerned about the additional burden the Government's proposed asylum camp at MOD Bicester will have on local policing.
“Any increase in population inevitably increases the likelihood of crime but even before the camp is occupied, there will be significant pressure on the force to safely manage protest activity at the site, which has already started.”
Mr Barber said the £1.7 million estimate only represented the additional cash cost and warned resources could have to be redeployed from elsewhere in the Thames Valley.
Under current Home Office arrangements, Thames Valley Police can apply for financial support towards additional costs, but Mr Barber says this does not go far enough.
“It is unacceptable that police forces cannot seek full cost recovery for the additional policing burdens that will inevitably result from the establishment of large asylum accommodation sites,” he said.
Mr Barber has asked the Government for assurances that funding would be provided before Thames Valley Police makes financial commitments and wants greater flexibility for the force to recover its costs.
He said: “I urge the Government to review the Home Office’s cost recovery policy in relation to large asylum sites before any further decisions on MOD Bicester are made.”
We have contacted the Home Office for a response.