Reform UK hires patrol to monitor ‘asylum seeker’ areas

The patrols will be in Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford (Picture: Daily Mail)

A Reform UK council has deployed private security guards to town centres where concerns have reportedly been raised over ‘gatherings of male migrants’ from a nearby accommodation centre.

Essex County Council said that six operatives will patrol Braintree, Colchester and Chelmsford town centres from Monday for an initial three-month trial period.

The initiative, titled Operation Vanguard, is funded through a drawdown of up to £150,000 from a community improvement fund, the party said, with the three-month trial expected to cost about £118,000 plus VAT.

It has been criticis...