Police have outlined their fears in a letter to the National Infrastructure Directorate.

The letter from planning consultants CSJ Planning warns that disputes between workers and members of the public could hit one a day by the peak construction period in 2016.

It also predicts an explosion in crimes fuelled by excessive drinking among construction workers.

The letters states: “In particular the Constabulary share the same concerns of the Councils from the experiences during the construction of Sizewell B nuclear power station.

“Crime statistics during that development showed an increase in the amount of arrests made between the first years of construction (188) and at the later period of the development timescale of (572) showing an increase in arrests as the construction progressed.

“The bulk of these arrests were attributed to the in-migrant workforce with Sizewell B employees featuring strongly in the drink-drive and drunkenness categories.”

The force is calling for more funding from EDF for policing and has also warned about the threat of anti-nuclear protests and site thefts.