Penally Training Camp returns to Ministry of Defence control today, ending its controversial Home Office imposed use as accommodation for asylum seekers.

The move follows a damning inspection report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and the independent chief inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI). published in March 9 which highlighted the deteriorating mental health of residents as well as a lack of Covid protection and fire safety.

The male immigrants, mostly from Iraq and Iran, started arriving in late September last year. Their arrival sparked organised protests outside the gates. Police used vehicles and dogs to control the situation. The scenes must have worried local residents and were described by Councillor Jon Preston as “disgraceful.”

On September 28 an open letter to the Home Secretary was sent by Pembrokeshire County Council, the Hywel Dda University Health Board and local stakeholders.

“Proper consultation would have immediately made it clear that Penally Camp is unsuitable accommodation, particularly for men who may have experienced trauma, great hardship and have been separated from their families,” the letter had stated.

“The buildings are in a poor condition, in a rural location with one village shop and no established support network. It is unprecedented in Wales that people seeking asylum are ‘cohorted’ together in such a large number in unsuitable accommodation.

“Pembrokeshire is a warm, welcoming county and we can assure you that those who live here would be only too keen to show their compassion for those who have suffered greatly.

“Sadly, the way in which this sensitive issue has been handled can only have added to their trauma and given them the wrong impression of the area in which we live. It has also created a sense of fear and uncertainty among those who live here.”

By mid-January, 2021 it was clear that the residents themselves were far from happy with their accommodation. Despite the covid lockdown, the men from the camp took to the streets in two demonstrations (with up to 30 on the first march, and around 40 on the second) chanting “we need freedom...not prison” at times during the walk, with many carrying banners bearing messages such as ‘Covid-19 is killing people close the camp’ and ‘We want a normal life, no prison’.

Artisan Avenue, a not-for-profit organisation based in Tenby that promotes arts for well-being, was one demonstration of Pembrokeshire’s warm welcome as they literally drew aside the Penally Camp residents. Announcing on their Facebook page on Friday that all of their Penally Camp artists had now left the camp, they observed: “Some horrible days of uncertainty for them but at least they are now free of barbed wire and restrictions!” Thanking their followers for the support shown to the artists they added “We will continue to encourage their passionate creativity and cultivate the hope they shared with us.”

On receiving the news earlier this week, Councillor Jon Preston wished the residents well for the future but called for further investigation as he said:

“The return of Penally camp to the MoD will end a six-month period of disruption and uncertainty for the residents of Penally. However, there remains a need to fully scrutinise the way in which the Home Office acted in this matter.

“The failings by the Home Office have undermined any trust in the government departments we rely on to protect our interests and uphold humanitarian obligations.

“I will be working with colleagues over the coming weeks to explore the options available to gain a full understanding of how this happened in the first place, and how we can ensure it does not happen again.

“In the meantime, I wish the residents at Penally camp well for the future and I look forward to welcoming the military community back to Penally.”