Worried residents have set up a ‘vigilante’ group in a town that is set to house 600 adult male migrants in an army camp.

The Crowborough Patrol will wander the town centre day and night wearing hi-vis jackets and red baseball caps.

They say they want to be a ‘visible deterrent’ to prevent any ‘unwanted activity’ and protect families and children.

Organisers say the patrol team will concentrate their efforts on the morning and afternoon school runs and will be on the streets in the evening.

They say if they see any behaviour they believe ‘warrants action’ they will have the means to report it and to contact the authorities.

Last night one resident branded the group ‘a bunch of vigilantes’ and called for the police to step in.

He said: ‘A bunch of vigilantes with too much time on their hands is the last thing this town needs.

‘It is already a powder keg situation and what we don’t need is for a self-appointed gang ready to put a flame to it. It’s a provocation and should be stopped by the police.’

The group insists it has the ‘full support’ of the local community and has hit out against the vigilante claims by describing them as ‘one comment on social media’. It said it will not directly intervene in any incidents, only report them on.

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The Crowborough Patrol will wander the town centre day and night wearing hi-vis jackets and red baseball caps

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Members of the patrol group accompanying protesters during a rain-soaked march yesterday

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Patrol group members are distinguishable by their red baseball caps and high-vis jackets

The launch of of the patrols is the latest controversy to hit the East Sussex town after the Home Office announced plans to house up to 540 undocumented migrant men aged between 18-65.

The men, who are free to come and go as they please, are to be housed in accommodation at the 37-acre cadet training camp as part of Labour’s bid to reduce the use of asylum hotels.

Yesterday around 1,500 residents marched through the streets to protest against the Home Office plans.

A spokesperson for Crowborough Patrol said: ‘Our aim is simple, be visible and a deterrent.

‘Over the coming weeks and months, and who knows, maybe years, you will see us strolling around Crowborough, taking in the sights of the hot spots.

‘We aim to be visible during the morning and afternoon school runs in term time, and as the evening sets in each day.

‘We are not here to confront, we are here as local residents, concerned for the welfare of our town, and hopefully make a difference between unwanted activity and a peaceful place to continue living.’

The spokesperson said all patrol members must have a DBS check before starting work.

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Around 1,500 residents marched through the streets to protest against the Home Office plans yesterday

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The Crowborough Training Camp previously housed Afghan refugees

Crowborough has a population of just over 20,000. It borders Ashdown Forest, home of Winnie the Pooh.

Until this week, the local Army training camp had been used by successive generations of cadet forces from across East Sussex.

On Thursday night, the last of these cadet groups was told to pack up and move out ahead of a change of ownership.

Today the 37-acre site will cease to be a Ministry of Defence base and the new landlord will be the Home Office.

Weald District Council says it is taking the advice of senior barristers to explore what legal channels may be open to them should the Government press ahead with the plans.

It says it has serious concerns about staffing at the camp, police provision and the impact on health services.

Crowborough Shield – a grassroots organisation which has challenged the Home Office decision – has so far raised more almost £60,000 to fund legal action.

The camp and barracks were previously used to accommodate Afghan families evacuated during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 before they were resettled elsewhere.

The camp itself has a proud history going back to the war, when it was used by Canadian forces preparing for D-Day.

Residents, especially those that live on their own, say they are installing panic alarms in their homes over safety fears.

The Home Office has apologised for its handling of its plans to use the the Crowborough camp to house asylum seekers but says it is determined to stamp out the use of hotels to house migrants.

The Crowborough Fast Reaction Patrol said in a statement: ‘We are resident-led initiative created by people who want to play an active part in keeping the town feeling safe, welcoming and well looked after. Our volunteers give their time to provide a steady, visible presence in areas where residents often feel more comfortable when others are around.

‘Patrol members can be identified by their branded high-visibility jackets and distinctive red caps. Our walks take us through key parts of Crowborough, including routes used during school-run times and the early evening period.

‘The intention is simple: to discourage unwanted behaviour by being seen, to offer reassurance to those who live and work here, and to act as familiar, approachable faces within the community. We do not intervene or confront. Our role is based on visibility, calm observation and neighbourly support.’