Braintree District Council has responded to the start of private security contractor patrols in Braintree Town Centre under Operation Vanguard
Responding to Essex County Council launching private security patrols yesterday (September 14) in Braintree town centre as part of Operation Vanguard, Cllr Tom Cunningham, Leader of Braintree District Council, said:
“Braintree is a safe place to live, work and visit, and it is important that any action affecting our town centre is based on evidence, properly planned and developed with the partners already working together locally.
“We remain firmly opposed to the use of Wethersfield as an asylum accommodation centre. The site is unsuitable, it should not have been imposed on our district, and it should close as soon as possible. We are also lobbying the Home Office to stop the trips to Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford.
“But while the site remains open, the response must be careful, proportionate and evidence-led. The available information does not support any suggestion that Braintree town centre is unsafe or that a separate private security presence has been requested or justified by local partners.
“Town centre crime is lower than it was three years ago, police have their own dedicated Wethersfield funding, and crime linked to the site has been described as 'very low'. There is also already significant day-to-day partnership work taking place between the council, Essex Police, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and other agencies to keep Braintree safe.
“This proposal has been developed too quickly, without any consultation with the organisations already responsible for community safety locally.
"In a sensitive situation, what is needed is cooperation, clear evidence and calm leadership — not action that risks increasing concern or reinforcing inaccurate perceptions about Braintree.
“We have asked Essex County Council for urgent clarification on the evidence base for this decision, the role of the security provider, how the scheme will work alongside Essex Police, and how risks around community cohesion will be managed.
“It has been a difficult time for Braintree town centre, and other town centres too. Perception matters and we want to do all we can to support the town, our fellow residents and our retailers to ensure the town bounces back better and we all come together as a wider Braintree community.
“Braintree’s residents, businesses and visitors deserve practical action that helps people feel safe and is rooted in facts. We will continue to work constructively with all partners, but Braintree’s voice must be central to decisions affecting our town and district.”
Cllr Cunningham has already written an open letter on the proposal to the leader of Essex County Council, Cllr Peter Harris. You can find the letter here.