S
Saphire
Guest
"Villagers have branded a planned asylum centre on an ex-RAF station site an "open prison in the middle of nowhere".
The Home Office wants to place up to 1,500 male asylum seekers at Linton-on-Ouse near York.
Residents have flooded the prime minster and home secretary with dozens of letters opposing the proposal.
The government previously said the centre would help towards saving £4.7m in hotel costs.
Locals encouraged "villagers of all ages" to join a "vigorous campaign" against the plans, which they said were announced without warning.
Alison Thewliss, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Detention said she fully supported the Linton-on-Ouse Action Group.
She said the Home Office had "foisted the centre on to local residents without consultation."
The Home Office has previously apologised to residents for the way the announcement was made.
Ms Thewliss said facilities in the area were not "suitable or appropriate" to deal with an "overwhelming number of people coming into a small area".
A senior North Yorkshire Police officer said there had been an increase in patrols and he would expect his officers to listen to residents' concerns.
He said policing would be increased, and two police officers - from the community, who understood the community - would be on patrol between 8.30 and midnight every day.
A resident claimed that a police officer had advised that women should not go out in short skirts, but the police officer said it would be unacceptable for any officer to have said that."
The Home Office wants to place up to 1,500 male asylum seekers at Linton-on-Ouse near York.
Residents have flooded the prime minster and home secretary with dozens of letters opposing the proposal.
The government previously said the centre would help towards saving £4.7m in hotel costs.
Locals encouraged "villagers of all ages" to join a "vigorous campaign" against the plans, which they said were announced without warning.
Alison Thewliss, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Detention said she fully supported the Linton-on-Ouse Action Group.
She said the Home Office had "foisted the centre on to local residents without consultation."
The Home Office has previously apologised to residents for the way the announcement was made.
Ms Thewliss said facilities in the area were not "suitable or appropriate" to deal with an "overwhelming number of people coming into a small area".
A senior North Yorkshire Police officer said there had been an increase in patrols and he would expect his officers to listen to residents' concerns.
He said policing would be increased, and two police officers - from the community, who understood the community - would be on patrol between 8.30 and midnight every day.
A resident claimed that a police officer had advised that women should not go out in short skirts, but the police officer said it would be unacceptable for any officer to have said that."
