Woman Reveals What Police Told Residents to Do as 1,250 Male Asylum Seekers Are Set to Move Near Their Village

A woman living in a small village in Oxfordshire has shared her fears about government plans to house around 1,250 male asylum seekers near her home. She also revealed the worrying advice she claims police gave residents about what to do if they feel threatened.

Christina Gower, who lives in Piddington, spoke about her concerns during an interview with Dawn Neesom on GB News. She said many people in the village are worried about their safety and feel the government is not listening to them.

Piddington is a small village with around 350 residents. The Labour government plans to accommodate approximately 1,250 male asylum seekers at a former military base near the community.

The proposal has caused anger among some local people, who believe the number of asylum seekers is too high for such a small area.

Residents have even held a symbolic vote in favour of leaving the UK as a way of protesting against the plans.

The disagreement has also attracted the attention of Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber, who has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood asking her to reconsider the decision.

In his letter, he raised concerns about the possible impact on community safety and the pressure the plans could place on local police officers.

Speaking on GB News, Christina explained that her fears are partly connected to a frightening experience she had when she was just 15 years old.

According to her, she was walking along a busy road when a man she described as an illegal migrant approached her and asked her to have sex with him.

She claimed the man then followed her as she made her way home.

Christina said she managed to reach home safely, but believes being on a busy road, where other people were nearby, helped protect her.

She explained that Piddington is different because it is a quiet rural community with fewer people around.

She worries that someone facing a similar situation in the village might struggle to find help quickly.

“We don’t have that here in Piddington. We don’t have that security,” she told the GB News presenter.

Christina also made a concerning claim about advice she and other villagers received when they spoke to rural police officers.

According to her, residents were told that officers could take as long as 45 minutes to arrive if they were called to an emergency.

She claimed they were advised to run away and find somewhere to hide if they felt threatened.

“When we spoke to rural policing, they said to us that it would take up to 45 minutes for them to get here and the best thing we can do for ourselves is to run and hide,” she said.

Her comments have raised questions about how quickly police could respond to emergencies in the area, particularly if the number of people living nearby increases significantly.

However, the advice described by Christina is her account of the conversation, and the report did not include an independent confirmation from police that such instructions were officially given.

During the interview, Dawn Neesom also questioned how Christina felt about the government’s response to residents’ concerns.

The presenter pointed out that the proposed accommodation is in a rural area where asylum seekers could move around the surrounding community.

Christina said she was deeply disappointed that local people had not been given enough opportunity to discuss their worries with government officials.

“It’s so frustrating to be ignored by an elected government,” she said.

She explained that she had attended a parliamentary debate about the proposals and had hoped someone involved in making the decision would speak directly with concerned residents.

According to Christina, that did not happen.

“At any point, any of them could have come to speak to us, but they refused to speak to us,” she claimed.

She also criticised Andy Burnham, saying he had repeatedly promised to listen to the people of Piddington but had failed to address their concerns.

Christina said residents were tired of feeling that their voices did not matter when decisions affecting their community were being made.

She believes the government should give greater attention to the concerns of people already living in the area before moving ahead with the accommodation plans.

“He’s ignored all of our concerns. It’s about time this Labour government puts its taxpayers and British residents first,” she added.

The situation has become another example of the disagreement surrounding the government’s efforts to move asylum seekers out of hotels and into other types of accommodation.

While the government wants to reduce the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels, some communities have questioned whether former military sites are suitable for large numbers of people.

In Piddington, the main concerns raised by opponents include policing, emergency response times and the possible effects on everyday village life.

There is no evidence in the report that the asylum seekers proposed for the site have committed offences or pose a particular danger to residents. Nevertheless, Christina and other opponents want their concerns properly addressed before the plans go ahead.

For now, the disagreement continues, with residents calling for more communication, clear safety arrangements and a chance to have their views considered before any final decision is carried out.