An undercover ITV documentary has alleged that torture survivors may have been unlawfully accommodated at a former military training camp in East Sussex, and that welfare checks at the site are inadequate.
The documentary, Inside The Asylum Camp, was filmed covertly by a reporter who worked as a welfare officer at Crowborough, one of two former military sites the Home Office is using to house asylum seekers as part of its plan to replace hotel accommodation.
The footage shows staff appearing to admit to cutting corners on the required monthly welfare checks. One welfare officer is filmed telling the undercover reporter “you don’t need to go in too deep”, while another says of the 1,000 checks they are supposed to carry out each month: “We’re so fucked.” When asked if flags raised about vulnerable asylum seekers are acted on, a welfare officer replies: “Those flags mean nothing” and that “nobody ever looks at them again”.
The undercover reporter said he identified four or five survivors of torture who should not have been sent to the military camp. Last May, the High Court ruled that a Home Office policy forcing torture survivors to share rooms was unlawful; Crowborough accommodates people in large dormitories.
Louise Calvey, executive director of the charity Asylum Matters, said the reports were “appalling”. She added: “Brave survivors endure appalling experiences arriving to a country where they thought they’d be safe – a supposed civilised country, placing them in camps without the support they desperately need.”
Calvey said the government needed to urgently review its use of the camps, which she described as “a choice to punish people for having the audacity to exercise their lawful right to seek asylum here”.
The camp is run by Clearsprings Ready Homes, whose latest accounts show it is generating millions of pounds in income from asylum accommodation contracts. The Home Office and Clearsprings were approached.
Local opposition to the Crowborough site and other camps has focused on fears about crime, although police records show very low levels of even minor crimes recorded among asylum seekers at Crowborough and Wethersfield.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Asylum seekers, including torture survivors, may be subjected to inadequate care and unlawful treatment
- The government's policy of using military camps could face legal challenge if unlawful placements are confirmed
- The documentary raises questions about accountability of private contractors managing welfare checks
Background
The Crowborough camp is one of two former military sites used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers as part of a plan to end reliance on hotel accommodation. In May 2026, the High Court ruled unlawful a Home Office policy forcing torture survivors to share rooms. Local opposition to the camps has centred on fears of crime, though police records show very low levels of incidents at the sites. The camp is run by Clearsprings Ready Homes, whose director, Graham King, has become the first asylum accommodation billionaire.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- The full documentary airs on ITV on 15 November, which may prompt further revelations and responses
- The Home Office and Clearsprings may issue statements after the broadcast
- Potential legal challenges from torture survivors placed at the camp
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe documentary claims torture survivors may have been unlawfully placed at an asylum camp in Sussex.UK news | The Guardian: “Torture survivors may have been sent to Sussex asylum camp unlawfully, documentary reveals.”
- SupportedThe summary says the documentary reports inadequate welfare checks at Crowborough.UK news | The Guardian: “Asylum seekers accommodated at a controversial military base in East Sussex have been subjected to inadequate welfare checks”
- SupportedThe summary says the documentary claims poor screening at Crowborough.UK news | The Guardian: “The documentary claims that poor screening and welfare checks are having serious consequences for some of the asylum seekers.”
- SupportedA welfare officer told the undercover reporter, “you don’t need to go in too deep”.UK news | The Guardian: “On one occasion a welfare officer is filmed telling the undercover reporter “you don’t need to go in too deep”.”
- Partly supportedA different welfare officer said “We’re so fucked” about the 1,000 checks supposed to be carried out each month.UK news | The Guardian: “Staff appear to admit to falling behind on the 1,000 welfare checks they are supposed to carry out each month saying: “We’re so fucked.””
- Not in the sourcesThe welfare officer was asked whether flags raised about vulnerable asylum seekers were acted on.UK news | The Guardian: “Concerns about an asylum seeker can be flagged on their file. A welfare officer is filmed telling the undercover reporter: “Those flags mean nothing” and that “nobody ever looks at them again”.”
- SupportedA welfare officer said “Those flags mean nothing” and “nobody ever looks at them again”.UK news | The Guardian: “A welfare officer is filmed telling the undercover reporter: “Those flags mean nothing” and that “nobody ever looks at them again”.”
- SupportedThe undercover reporter said he identified four or five torture survivors who should not have been sent to the camp.UK news | The Guardian: “The undercover reporter says he has identified four or five survivors of torture who should not have been sent to the military camp.”
- SupportedLast May, the High Court ruled unlawful a Home Office policy forcing torture survivors to share rooms.UK news | The Guardian: “Last May, the high court ruled that a Home Office policy change forcing torture survivors to share rooms was unlawful.”
- SupportedLouise Calvey said: “Brave survivors endure appalling experiences arriving to a country where they thought they’d be safe – a supposed civilised country, placing them in camps without the support they desperately need.”UK news | The Guardian: ““Brave survivors endure appalling experiences arriving to a country where they thought they’d be safe – a supposed civilised country, placing them in camps without the support they desperately need.””
- SupportedCalvey said the government needed to urgently review its use of the camps and called it “a choice to punish people for having the audacity to exercise their lawful right to seek asylum here”.UK news | The Guardian: “Calvey said the government needed to urgently review its use of the camps, which she described as “a choice to punish people for having the audacity to exercise their lawful right to seek asylum here”.”