Community update: CAMERON BARRACKS ASYLUM-SEEKERS
3 December 2025
Background
The Home Office confirmed on 27 October an intention to accommodate asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness. Home Office FAQs can be viewed online.
At a special meeting on 6 November 2025, Council agreed that the Leader, Convenor and Leader of the Opposition would write a joint letter to the Home Secretary requesting more detailed information and engagement on the plan. The letter was subsequently sent on 13 November.
Recent correspondence and information
On 24 November, the Leader received a response from Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum to an initial letter sent by him on 28 October before the special Council meeting. This did not contain any new information.
On 26 November, Home Office officials indicated verbally that:
- Arrivals would not take place until January 2026
- No specific contract has been signed for Cameron Barracks (though a wider facilities management contract has been agreed)
- The Home Office will put in additional checks of arrivals to the UK to ensure as far as possible that no under-18s will travel to Cameron Barracks for placement there.
At this meeting, Home Officer officials were asked if they would agree an arrival date with local partners. They advised they would take this back to their Programme Board. Regarding updates to the public, the Home Office advised it was not their policy to provide specific dates.
On 26 November, the Leader, Convenor and Leader of the Opposition wrote again to the Home Secretary, requesting a copy of the implementation plan for the proposal and assurance that any proposal would be compliant with planning and licensing requirements.
On 28 November, the Home Office confirmed they were not currently carrying out proactive communication at this point. They confirmed they will not organise a public meeting.
Subsequently, it appears that the Home Office confirmed to media that its proposals had been delayed while they addressed issues relating to the site.
Current response
On 28 November the Highland Public Protection Group met and agreed put in place a resilience framework in order to manage the local risks, given the lack of an implementation plan or details of workforce requirement and budget. Highland Council will take the strategic lead for this framework in this planning phase.
The resilience model will promote and enable:
- The balancing of human rights and humanitarian obligations with a firm commitment to public safety and community reassurance.
- In partnership, uphold organisational values of transparency and accountability building trust with our communities.
- Health, wellbeing, and safeguarding by working in collaboration with the Home Office and local Community Safety Partners, ensuring practice is trauma-informed.
- Community cohesion, safety and build local confidence by addressing concerns, working with the community and through a visible and constructive partnership presence.
- Working with the Home Office to ensure that the Third Sector Interface, voluntary and faith groups can contribute to the project as and when required.
Highland has a proud history of offering welcome and sanctuary and Highland Council is committed to working with our partners and communities to ensure both the experience of the asylum seekers and the local community is safe, structured and well-managed.