Military families in Inverness have voiced deep alarm and fury over Government plans to accommodate up to 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks. The historic site is set to be transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the Home Office on January 12. This move has sparked significant backlash due to its location, which is immediately adjacent to residential military housing.
Many service personnel from the base are scheduled for overseas deployment early next year. The timing means that wives and children will be living next to the site without their partners’ presence.
Residents fear that these families will be left in a vulnerable position. The plan specifically focuses on housing single adult males, which has heightened the community’s sense of unease.
The controversy has reached the highest levels of Government. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has demanded urgent reassurances from opposite number Shabana Mahmood regarding security measures.
In a formal letter, Mr Philp warned of potential risks, citing multiple recent cases of serious sexual crimes involving asylum seekers in various parts of the UK.
He specifically referenced the case of Sadeq Nikzad, an Afghan asylum seeker sentenced to nine years for the rape of a teenage girl in Falkirk.
He also pointed to the convictions of Jan Jahanzeb and Israr Niazal for raping a 15-year-old girl in Leamington Spa. These examples were used to argue that the safety of local families must be prioritised.
Mr Philp urged the Government to reconsider the plan. He criticised the lack of local consent and questioned what safeguarding assessments were conducted for nearby schools.
Local community leaders have voiced their opposition, noting an absence of meaningful consultation. Highland Council’s Conservative leader, Rhuraidh Stewart, reported widespread anxiety among young families.
Ward councillor Isabelle MacKenzie described military wives as “furious and deeply concerned”. She told the Mail some were even instructed not to publicise their worries to the media.
Public protests occurred in Inverness in November. These demonstrations reflect a broader national tension over the Government’s efforts to phase out expensive hotel accommodation.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.
“This Government will close every asylum hotel.
“Work is well underway, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities and cut asylum costs.
“We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across government so that we can accelerate delivery.”