Police are preparing for the possibility of “regular, sustained and significant protest activity” if controversial plans to house asylum seekers at the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse go ahead.

North Yorkshire Police has warned that dealing with protests at the site could require significant resources to be drawn from across the force, potentially placing pressure on policing elsewhere in the county.

Linfon-on-Ouse is nine miles from Boroughbridge.

The concerns have now been taken directly to home secretary Shabana Mahmood by York and North Yorkshire mayor David Skaith and deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime Jo Coles.

The warning emerged in a letter sent to Ms Coles by North Yorkshire Police temporary deputy chief constable Catherine Clarke setting out preparations being made for the proposed accommodation centre.

Ms Clarke said a key issue was ensuring there were “clear, sustainable and fully funded arrangements” to deal with the realities of responding to potential “regular, sustained and significant protest activity”.

She added that protests of this nature could require significant police resources.

“Should this occur in North Yorkshire, it would be inevitable that resources would be drawn from across the force and would represent a challenge,” the senior officer said.

She warned there remained a “realistic prospect” that further financial support would be required if anticipated operational pressures materialised and local policing services were not to be adversely affected.

North Yorkshire Police has already put a formal gold, silver and bronze command structure in place in anticipation of the development, providing strategic, operational and tactical oversight.

The force is holding weekly discussions with the Home Office and local authority, while the local resilience forum has been mobilised to support contingency planning and risk management.

Neighbourhood officers are also developing patrol and community engagement plans which can be increased in response to emerging risks and operational demand.

Police have contacted forces which already police larger immigration and accommodation sites to learn from their experiences, while the National Police Public Order Coordination Centre is facilitating discussions between forces dealing with similar issues.

Mr Skaith and Ms Coles have now written to the Home Secretary asking whether the Government will guarantee that additional policing costs resulting from the proposed centre will be centrally funded.

They warned that policing demand in the rural area was currently negligible and said additional requirements at Linton would inevitably place pressure on resources elsewhere.

“Strategic policing requirements at this site would inevitably put considerable pressure on the resources of North Yorkshire Police elsewhere in the county,” their letter states.

Security concerns

The mayor and deputy mayor have also raised concerns about security, the proximity of the village primary school and secondary school bus stop, and the limited services and public transport available locally.

They said they could not support the Home Office proposal and have asked ministers to reconsider whether the former RAF base is suitable.

Mr Skaith and Ms Coles have also requested talks with the Home Secretary and her officials before a final decision is taken.

A Home Office spokesperson said: