Following Essex County Council's announcement of Operation Vanguard, Cllr Paul Dundas, Leader of Colchester City Council, said:
"We welcome any additional resources that support community safety in Colchester. However, it is important to recognise that Colchester City Council has already invested in a proactive response through our Neighbourhood Wardens, who have been monitoring activity and working with partners for a long time. Colchester City Council is very much ahead of the game on this, so we have been doing for months what Essex County Council is now suggesting doing."
"The transport of residents from the Wethersfield site into Colchester is a Home Office arrangement and not something requested by the City Council. Nevertheless, we have worked hard to manage the impact locally and provide reassurance to residents and businesses.
"If Essex County Council proceeds with this initiative, we look forward to understanding the detail and exploring how it can complement the measures already in place in Colchester. Any additional support should form part of a coordinated approach that helps tackle all anti-social behaviour and provides reassurance to residents, businesses and visitors alike.”