Dawn raids are the barbaric practise which the Home Office uses to detain asylum seekers they don't believe should be in the country. Often used against families with children it involves men in riot gear kicking a families door down in the early hours of the morning and taking the families from their beds and on to an awaiting detention centre or deportation plane.

Last December activists from the No Borders Network held early morning blockades in an attempted to stop dawn raids. At the Brand Street Immigration Reporting Centre in Glasgow a 12 foot tripod was erected in the gate-way and people d-locked themselves to the gates. This action prevented a dawn raid from leaving, giving one family one more day of safety.

The trial took two days to complete, with one security guard and three police officers taking the witness box. A submission of no case to answer was entered, but rejected. One of the accused gave evidence as to the purpose of the protest, to stop dawn raids. Sheriff Mackie found all four guilty. Three were sentenced to 6 months good behaviour and one, who had a previous conviction, was given a fine of £150.

On release all four were in good spirits. All that remains to do now is write to Strathclyde Police and ask for our tripod back.

See also: Dawn raids continue

No Borders Network UK

Unity Centre Glasgow