On one side many of those who gathered at the Cameron Barracks voiced their support for asylum seekers. Picture: Callum Mackay
Opposite sides of the asylum debate have clashed in Inverness again, with rallies held outside the city’s Cameron Barracks.
The Home Office revealed plans last month to house 300 asylum seekers at the Inverness site while their applications are processed.
Initially expected to begin arriving late last month or early December it was later announced that people would only be moved into the facility when it is “fully operational and safe”.
Police were on hand to maintain order in the residential area of Inverness. Picture: Callum Mackay
The 140-year-old base, a mile from Inverness city centre, was used in the last few years to house families fleeing Afghanistan.
The Home Office said it still planned to “accelerate” the movement of people to the barracks.
But it saod it would not do so at the expense of safety within surrounding local communities.
Highland Council said it has been told that the first asylum seekers are not expected to arrive before January.
This afternoon protesters and counter demonstrators gathered close to the Barracks.
They gathered at the rear access gates to the Barracks by Wimberley Way in a residential area largely housing serving armed forces personnel and their families.
As with similar twin gatherings on Inverness High Street last month police were on hand to maintain order.
Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) had shared a message with its members yesterday, from Police Scotland, which stated that total numbers of those attending was expected to be between 100 and 300 and a “policing plan” was in place “including protest liaison officers, evidence gathering team, hate crime advisors etc.”
“Police Scotland’s role will be to facilitate the peaceful exercise of certain fundamental human rights,” they stated.
One of today’s demonstrations was organised by Highlands Against Hate, which supports refugees coming to Scotland, with another by supporters of anti-illegal immigration group Peterhead United.
Shouts were reported to have been exchanged between the groups gathered behind metal barriers.
A co-organiser of the gathering voicing support for asylum seekers said: “We are dismayed to see the outpouring of hostility towards individuals fleeing from persecution, conflict and torture.
“The Highlands is famed for its hospitality, and has benefited greatly from the contributions of those originally from elsewhere in keeping our local services going.
“Our NHS would crumble without migrants working for it, some of whom were forced to seek asylum here initially and have gone on to have long careers in the NHS.
“Unfortunately our local services are in danger, not from asylum seekers, but from decades of austerity and a lack of investment from the government.”
On the other side a spokesperson for the Peterhead United Group, stating it opposes illegal immigration, said: “The purpose of the event is to publicly highlight the local and national condemnation of the controversial and deeply alarming decision of the UK Home Office to house 300+ illegal, unvetted, fighting-age, migrant men within close proximity to neighbouring communities and associated schools and play parks without the apparent consultation of local residents, local authorities and the Scottish Government.
“Peterhead United Group believe the men, women and children of our peaceful communities deserve to live, work and play in peace and safety without the detrimental consequences of illegal, culturally-incompatible, unvetted, migrant men invading and wandering freely through our cities, towns and villages.
“As a group we strongly endorse and support legal migrants and value their contribution to our society, culture and economy.”
Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.