Resource

18 months ago, the Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) published detailed evidence from medical assessments and casework showing that the government’s use of Wethersfield airbase as a large ‘open-prison camp’ for men seeking asylum since July 2023 was causing profound harm. Many men moved there were extremely vulnerable and the Home Office had itself recognised that this type of accommodation was unsuitable for those people - including survivors of torture and trafficking and those who had severe mental health issues. This harm has continued and been regularly evidenced by organisations working with men at the site.

Although the Labour government has closed the Bibby Stockholm barge; abandoned plans to open a new accommodation centre in RAF Scampton; and will close Napier Barracks in September 2025, there is currently no plan for the closure of Wethersfield. This is despite the Prime Minister making a clear commitment to do so before the general election. Wethersfield is not only harmful, but also extremely expensive – in the second half of 2024 it cost over £30 million a year to accommodate just over 600 people.

New data acquired by HBF shows that:

In the second half of 2024, 624 men seeking asylum were transferred to, and accommodated at Wethersfield. The majority of these were from Afghanistan (120 – 19%), Syria (118 – 19%), Iran (91 – 15%) and Eritrea (78 – 13%). 

283 men had a substantive interview for their asylum claim. However, this has brought a new raft of concerns given that Wethersfield is in a legal advice desert, and there is no support other than ‘sign-posting’ for men to find legal representatives.

Significant safeguarding concerns remain in Wethersfield. Data acquired by HBF shows that there were 393 safeguarding referrals made in the first three months of 2025:

• 35 were regarding suicide or self-harm
• 90 were regarding violent/disruptive behaviour
• 141 were regarding ‘missing individuals’
• 31 were regarding physical health and
• 51 referrals were regarding victims of torture and trafficking.

An isolated living environment, lack of privacy, lack of access to adequate healthcare and legal services, and the lack of assessment of vulnerability and risk are just some of the reasons why placing people in camp accommodation on ex-military sites is an inhumane way to treat those seeking protection. It causes additional pain and trauma to people who have already experienced conflict, oppression, abuse, torture and trafficking. The Home Office is taking an unnecessary and hugely expensive risk in continuing to accommodate men in Wethersfield.

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