Plan to maneuver migrants into military barracks is delayed over security fears after a whole lot of livid residents marched in protest

Plans to move migrants into army barracks have been delayed amid safety concerns after hundreds of furious locals marched against the move. 

Ministers initially promised Crowborough Camp in East Sussex and Cameron Barracks in Inverness would start housing hundreds of asylum seekers by December 1. 

The military barracks are going to be used to house the migrants as part of the Government’s bid to reduce the use of asylum hotels.

But the scheme has been postponed because basic requirements have still not been put in place.

The Home Office have been working with stakeholders to understand the viability of moving asylum seekers into Cameron Barracks and Crowborough, a source said.

It comes after hundreds of East Sussex locals protested against government plans to move migrants into the camp, which can house up to 540 people, last weekend.

Demonstrators draped in English flags held placards as they marked a third consecutive week of protesting. 

Six hundred marchers wore numbered bibs to highlight the number of asylum seekers who were expected to be housed at the site next week.

Locals have described Labour’s plans to ‘dump’ the asylum seekers in the camp on the edge of the small Sussex town as ‘underhand’.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.

‘Moving to large military sites is an important part of our reforms to tackle illegal migration and the pull factors that make the UK an attractive destination.

‘We are continuing to accelerate plans to move people into Crowborough and Cameron Barracks, when the sites are fully operational and safe.

‘We will not replicate the mistakes of the past where rushed plans have led to unsafe and chaotic situations that impacts the local community.’

Adult cadet instructors are now considering suspending all training once the migrants are moved in, warning that they cannot guarantee the safeguarding of youngsters on site.

Senior instructors have voiced deep concern about mixing the youth detachments with an influx of adult males and say the risks remain unresolved.

In recent days, large fences have also been erected around the perimeter, and security guards with dogs have been seen patrolling the area as preparations continue for the arrival of more than 500 asylum seekers.

Parents and cadet volunteers — none of whom have official training — have reportedly taken it upon themselves to carry out ‘counter patrols’ near pick-up and drop-off times to monitor any potential risks.

Crowborough Shield, a residents’ group opposing the plans, warned that cadets ‘will be displaced, with no alternative location offered.’

Crowborough has a population of around 22,000 and locals believe their way of life could be threatened by the asylum seekers.

Organisers handed out 600 numbered cards to marchers, with Penny Saunders, 58, an office administrator, carrying the number 600.

‘I’m Crowborough born and bred. I haven’t marched before, but I’m in total agreement with it. It will make a huge difference to our community,’ she said.

‘I’ve seen catastrophic changes already. Our local services can’t cope as it is. I’ve seen crime rise, and it’ll only get worse.

‘This is about community and the fact these men will be undocumented. It is about safety. The reason people want to live here is about the community and safety. It is not about racism,’ Penny said.

Adam, who declined to give his surname, carried number one.

The 43-year-old company director from Crowborough said: ‘I wanted to make a stand against what is being imposed on our community.

‘I want to protect my mum, my wife and daughter. We will be here until we don’t have to come any more.’

Councillor Andrew Wilson, who represents Crowborough South East Ward, said Sunday’s protest was ‘a fantastic sight to see’ from a community ‘kept in the dark’ about Home Office plans.

He said: ‘It’s been a fantastic community response to a Home Office plan that is completely inappropriate.

‘If you look across the country at other places where asylum seekers have been housed, such as asylum hotels in Epping, there have been issues.

‘There’s not a lot to do in Crowborough – we’re a very small town… This is introducing a level of risk which I’m not sure the Home Office has appreciated.’

Cllr Wilson, who has lived in the town for 11 years, added he is concerned Crowborough lacks the police presence he believes will be needed if asylum seekers are housed at the base.

As of July 2025, the Home Office was spending around £5.77million a day on asylum hotels, down by £8.3million from the previous year. 

But fresh figures revealed asylum seekers living in hotels at taxpayers’ expense had jumped to more than 36,000, the highest level for nearly two years.

New Home Office data showed 36,273 migrants were in hotel accommodation at the end of September, up 4,232 from 32,041 at the end of June.

There were 111,651 in all receiving taxpayer-funded asylum support, an increase of nearly 5,600 in three months but below the peak of just under 124,000 hit in September 2023.

The Home Office said a record 110,051 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year ending to September.

That was up 13 per cent on the previous year and 7 per cent more than the previous peak of 103,081 in 2002.

This made it a new record high after a previous figure of 111,000 for the year to June was revised down slightly.

Separate data from the Office for National Statistics showed a significant fall in net migration – the total number of migrants arriving to live long-term in the Uk minus those emigrating.

In the year to June net migration was 204,000, two-thirds lower than a year earlier when it stood at 649,000.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is ‘determined to close all of our asylum hotels.’