Police have confirmed that officers attended an incident at Penally camp on Wednesday night (September 30)?where a man was arrested on suspicion of arson and causing criminal damage inside the facility.

Residents living in the village took to social media to comment on the amount of sirens that they could hear coming from the fenced camp, with witnesses stating that they saw an ambulance and police vans arriving at the facility on Wednesday night.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police stated: “Police were called to Penally Asylum Accommodation Centre shortly after 10.30 pm on Wednesday.

“Local officers attended and a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage and remains in police custody.”

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called last night, September 30, at approximately 10.40 pm to reports of a patient needing medical attention at Penally Camp."We responded with one emergency ambulance and one person was transported to Withybush Hospital.”Penally’s county councillor has reiterated that the army camp repurposed by the Home Office to house asylum seekers is not a suitable facility to accommodate those ‘fleeing persecution’.

Clr. Jon Preston has contacted Pembrokeshire County Council’s director of social services Jonathan Griffiths with his concerns, referring to a BBC report this morning that has exposed some of the poor conditions at the Penally barracks.

According to the report the occupants have criticised the conditions at the camp and that there are men under the age of 18 accommodated there.

The article published by the BBC today (October 1), states that some of the asylum seekers being housed in the Penally camp have said that they were shocked by the conditions.

The group of men, from Iraq and Iran, said it was the first time they had been placed in military accommodation since arriving in the UK, with one stating that as he came from war and political fighting, it was a distressing surrounding to be placed in.

“It’s cold and impossible to social distance,” said one of the men.

“It’s not good for human people here. It’s very cold and we are six people in a very small room. It is too many. We can’t social distance."

Members of the group that spoke to the BBC have said that they had been told they would be in Penally for a year.

“We don’t have anything against the location, we feel safe, but we are not army," said one. “This is not temporary. Please, we can’t stay here.”

In correspondence from Clr. Preston to PCC’s director of social services he said: “I have stated from the onset that Penally barracks is not a suitable facility to accommodate those fleeing persecution.

“I made my feeling clear to the Home Office when I told the immigration officers that I was deeply uncomfortable with the possibility that we may not be fully adhering to our legal humanitarian responsibilities.

“People may consider that the camp was suitable for the British Army, but I would argue that the soldiers have not been based there for extended periods for some time and that of late it’s primary use was to accommodate small numbers for live firing training on the range. I am not aware of any buildings maintenance to certify that there are no asbestos or water supply hazards in the buildings that were constructed during the 1940s .

“Is this really how we want to be remembered for our involvement in this humanitarian crisis?

The county council has made significant progress in safeguarding vulnerable adults and this is happening on our watch. I will continue to liaise with key stakeholders, partners and charitable organisations in challenging this decision by the Home Office,” added Clr. Preston.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Following a review of available government property, the Ministry of Defence agreed to temporarily hand over two of their sites in Kent and Pembrokeshire which are now being used to house asylum seekers.

“Nobody staying at these sites is being detained. Asylum seekers are able to come and go from the accommodation and are staying in safe, Covid-compliant conditions, in line with the law and social distancing requirements.”

Meanwhile, Clr. Preston has revealed that work is currently underway to hold a community engagement event to put forward questions to a panel consisting of Home Office officials, Pembrokeshire County Council representatives and as he understands local MP?and Welsh secretary of state Simon Hart in regards to the situation at the camp.

“Details will be made public once a date has been set. A similar session was recently held for the community of Folkstone in Kent,” stated Clr. Preston.Police presence has been prominent around the camp since the Home Office took control of the facility, and has led to claims that officers of Dyfed-Powys Police force have had annual leave cancelled due to the disturbances connected with protesting outside the camp.Pembrokeshire Superintendent Anthony Evans said: “We have called upon officers trained in policing protests, and have worked to ensure we have enough officers available to proactively engage with our communities. This does involve cancelling rest days, which is then reallocated at a later date, but no leave has been cancelled.“We are also making full use of our volunteers in the Special Constabulary to minimise the impact of policing the situation in Penally across the rest of the force area.“Our aim is to ensure the safe arrival of those into the camp and to facilitate everyone’s right to be heard. To do this, we need to plan for all eventualities,” he added.