'Lies' dispelled as Afghans temporarily housed in Wiltshire

An information event held at Durrington Village Hall on Monday, August 12, set the record straight on why Afghan people ditched their dreams of becoming to be housed in Larkhill.

There are currently a total of 248 Afghan people, in 38 families, occupying 44 houses and Larkhill Garrison is operating at "critical mass" as it sees between 12 and 20 people joining and leaving the area every fortnight.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy launched in April 2021, shortly before the Taliban took over, and it offers to house anyone who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles.

These roles could include cleaning, cooking or burning waste for the Army and have been described as "force multipliers" by Major Paddy Magill, who is based at Larkhill Garrison.

Major Magill said: "Normally we're not faced with a situation where we have to bring our force multipliers home with us.

"In Afghanistan, whenever we left there, it wasn’t a good place to be and through your association with the British Army your safety could not be assured."

Councillor Graham Wright helped organise the information event. (Image: Newsquest)

Everyone resettling in the UK from Afghanistan has been vetted "very stringently" before they arrive and they are classed as "entitled persons", not refugees.

They have indefinite leave to remain, the right to work in the UK and full access to NHS services.

Major Magill added: “I have read on the internet that these people come here and they get given everything. 

"These people are not refugees; they are deserving guests. In some cases they’ve come here with what’s in their pockets and at best a few suitcases.

“We need to feed them, we need to house them and we need to set them up for success because they deserve it.”

Afghan families are being housed in service families' accommodation which was previously unavailable due to its level of disrepair.

The Government allocated money outside of the Army budget to make the accommodation habitable for the Afghan families who are passing through Wiltshire and they will be returned to service personnel in the future.

An information event was held at Durrington Village Hall on Monday, August 12. (Image: Newsquest)

Hadia Basharmal, who fled Kabul and has been staying in Tidworth for five months, helped to translate parts of the presentation.

The biggest difference Miss Basharmal noticed upon moving is how quiet the area is compared to the bustling capital of Afghanistan, she said: "It's very good. I like British people."

Wiltshire Police inspector Ricky Lee dispelled "misinformation, lies and deceit" about an alleged rise in garage thefts, sexual offences and burglaries since the Afghan families arrived.

Inspector Lee said a reported "huge spike" in criminal behaviour is "simply not the case", adding: "I can stand here accountable in front of you today and ensure you we have done a full review on crime submission and cross referenced that with last year and there has been no notable increase."

Independent Wiltshire councillor Graham Wright, for Durrington, said: "It was amazing to see our audience half Afghan and half Durrington residents. 

"I'm pleased with the evening because it was hugely positive and the start of good things to come."