Hundreds protest Home Office immigration raid in Glasgow

Hundreds of protestors have disrupted a Home Office immigration raid in Glasgow’s Southside. 

One woman has crawled under the UK Border Agency van, while others have surrounded it, preventing it from leaving. 

The van was seen in Pollokshields just before 9am this morning, prompting a call out on social media. 

Police Scotland has deployed officers to try and hold back the crowds.

Glasgow MP Alison Thewliss was among those to condemn the Home Office action, she tweeted: "This is absolutely awful, but heartened to see local residents in Pollokshields standing up for their neighbours and refusing to accept the brutality of the UK Home Office.

"I am taking this matter up with Ministers. Not in our name." 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is the constituency MSP for Glasgow Southside, said she was “deeply concerned by this action by the Home Office, especially today in the heart of a community celebrating Eid.”

She said the UK Government department was "creating a dangerous and unacceptable situation in Pollokshields."

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said he had tried to speak to ministers at the Home Office but that nobody had been available.

He tweeted: “I am disappointed that out of 8 Home Office Ministers none of them could make themselves available to speak to me. 

“Having spoken to the DG for Home Office in Scotland I have urged him to abandon the forced removal. 

“He will consider next steps & I have requested an update.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “I am disgusted by the Home Office raids in Pollokshields.

“It is particularly unacceptable that this is happening during a pandemic, in an area that has a spike in cases and on the day of Eid.

“We need an immigration policy that is based on human dignity and human rights.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Around 9.55 am this morning, Thursday, May 13, 2021, police were called to assist colleagues at the UK Border Agency at an address in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow. 

"A number of protesters are now at the location. Officers are at the scene and enquiries are continuing."

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK Government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes, often to the most vulnerable people by removing those with no right to be in the UK.”

“The operation in Glasgow was conducted in relation to suspected immigration offences and the two Indian nationals complied with officers at all times

“The UK Government continues to tackle illegal migration in all its forms and our New Plan for Immigration will speed up the removal of those who have entered the UK illegally.”