A town in Aberdeenshire has seen its population rise by about 300 after a local hotel began accommodating asylum seekers in March 2023, prompting a mixture of welcome and worry among residents.
Men from Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan and Eritrea are among those living at the Hampton by Hilton in Westhill as they await Home Office decisions on asylum claims. Two people share each room, daily meals are provided and, while their applications are under consideration, most are not permitted to work.
Last month the hotel was the scene of an anti-immigration demonstration organised by the Homeland Party and a counter-demonstration. Police say they have found no evidence of a rise in crime in Westhill directly linked to the presence of asylum seekers.
Two men who spoke to BBC Scotland described arduous journeys to the UK, including crossings on small boats, and said they had fled persecution. One man, who asked to be identified as David and said he had converted to Christianity in Iran, described being detained and beaten and said he feared for his life if he returned. "If you are a Muslim, you cannot change your religion, and if you do that, they will capture you, torture you and finally execute you," he said.
Another man, identified as Adrian, said he had been at the hotel for nearly three months and was struggling with depression and fear. Both men said they had been met with kindness by many Westhill residents and that some in the community had helped them integrate by inviting them to services and events.
Westhill Community Church has offered practical support, including clothing and advice, and about 20 asylum seekers attend services, the church's minister, Rev Dave McCarthy, said. McCarthy said most people in the town had tried to be welcoming but acknowledged concerns among some residents about the strain on local resources and the means by which people reached Britain.
"I think on the whole my impression would be that people are positive and want to engage," Rev McCarthy said. "It's not that people necessarily agree with the method by which they come here — I think a lot of people would be concerned about that." He added that he had seen little evidence that the men housed at the hotel had contributed to local crime or made children unsafe.
David Ritchie, secretary of Westhill and Elrick Community Council, said the local response had included "very mixed feelings" but that the asylum seekers had caused "very little trouble". He said some residents would prefer the hotel not be used for long-term accommodation and that the rural town offered limited opportunities for people waiting on decisions.
Some asylum seekers have taken part in community activities such as litter picks, Ritchie said. He added that men understood their behaviour could affect asylum decisions, which he believed encouraged compliance with local rules.
Across Scotland and the wider UK, the hotel accommodation of people seeking refuge has fuelled political and public debate. A protest in Falkirk earlier this summer intensified concerns after an asylum seeker was jailed for the rape of a 15-year-old; the case has been cited by critics of current immigration arrangements. Police launched an investigation this week after a brick was thrown through the window of a hotel in Falkirk that also houses asylum seekers. First Minister John Swinney described the attack as "absolutely despicable."
The UK government says it inherited an asylum system in chaos and has taken measures intended to speed up decisions and reduce the number of people in hotels. Officials say asylum decision-making capacity has been doubled and that the number of people in hotels fell by 6,000 in the first half of 2025. The Home Office has reiterated there is no current change to rules on the right to work; asylum seekers remain eligible to apply for permission to work only after a claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more through no fault of their own.
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called the small boat crossings "utterly unacceptable" and condemned people smugglers. Opposition figures, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, have said tougher measures are needed to stop crossings and to protect public services.
Residents and community leaders in Westhill say the length of time it takes to process claims is having a serious effect on mental health for some of those staying in the hotel. "Some people it happens very quickly, but for some people it's too slow," David said. "They can't tolerate that physically and mentally." He and others said public discussion would be helped by clearer information about the claims process and what support is provided.
Local authorities, charities and community groups face the immediate task of balancing humanitarian support with responding to residents' concerns. Police and local councillors say there has been no evidence the presence of asylum seekers in Westhill has led to an increase in crime, but the issue remains politically charged and part of a broader national debate over asylum policy and border control.
Those living at the hotel say community engagement matters to their prospects of integration, while local leaders call for clearer national policy and faster processing of claims to ease pressures on both newcomers and host communities. The Westhill experience highlights the local consequences of a strained asylum system and the divergent views that can develop in towns asked to accommodate people fleeing persecution and hardship.