The quiet little UK town locals fear 'will turn into Paris' if 900 migrants move in

Locals in a quiet UK town fear their home could see riots resembling the recent scenes in Paris if plans to house almost 1,000 migrants in a neighbouring village go ahead. The concerned residents have spoken out about the controversial scheme, with some warning they might "take the law into their own hands". Meanwhile, others explained how the plans are "making everyone anxious" with some living in fear.

The Home Office submitted an application at the end of last month to house 931 asylum seekers at the former RAF Barnham base near Thetford, located on the Norfolk and Suffolk border. The site is intended for single adult males, with officials planning to convert the base's existing buildings and build modular units to create bed spaces.

As reported by The Sun, Thetford, which has a population of around 25,000, saw three nights of unrest during the summer. In August, a mob targeted properties believed to be housing asylum seekers, while five other locations also experienced violence and disorder over three consecutive evenings.

Tensions are now running high again following the recent application. Natasha Clay, who is on the Barnham Action Group campaigning against plans for the base, said the proposals were "making everyone anxious" and warned the town could become "the new Paris".

The 51-year-old, who has lived in Thetford all her life, said: "What is going on down the road in Barnham is making everyone anxious. There is fear in the town.

"The riots in France are going to end up going on here and I truly believe Thetford could turn into the new Paris. When you think of Paris you think of romance and beautiful things, but it is being torn down, it is crazy."

Meanwhile, 78-year-old Bert Hill fears people "taking the law into their own hands." He described the UK as a "soft touch", adding: "Bring back Maggie Thatcher I say, God rest her soul, she’ll have sorted them out."

Likewise, 79-year-old Shirley Coppin, who has lived in Thetford for 43 years, said she will support protesters as she "not happy about these people coming". Her friend, Ann, added: "We don’t know who they are, they are unvetted men potentially to be given free reign of our community."

However, Dave Large, 70, is urging the people of Thetford to remain "calm". He explained how "these people have got to go somewhere" and hopes "there will be no scenes of disorder" in his home.

There were significant anti-migrant protests in Thetford in August. The demonstrations escalated into violent disorder and saw Norfolk Police make 21 arrests.

Between August 4 and 6, large crowds gathered outside properties across Thetford, throwing rocks and eggs and smashing windows. Police were called but faced aggression from the protesters, with three officers left injured, including a female officer who was bitten.

Thetford’s MP Terry Jermy (Labour) said the plans for Barnham have seen him subject to "bullying, harassment and intimidation". He said a group of around 30 people allegedly pursued him down the street over the proposal.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We recognise the strength of feeling in local communities and are listening carefully to the concerns being raised. The government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1 billion saved in costs since the election.

"This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites. These are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to reduce the impact on local communities."

A Norfolk Police spokesperson added: "We continually engage with the local community in Thetford, as we do across Norfolk, to understand any concerns on crime issues.

"As a result we monitor information and intelligence, and adjust our response in a proportionate way to reassure the public and deal with offenders."