Two charged after asylum protest

Two men were charged with public disorder offences after a protest outside a UK Government office over plans to evict 300 asylum seekers.

Police were called to the Home office building in Glasgow at noon yesterday.

Two men, aged 45 and 58, were arrested, Police Scotland said. They were later charged with minor public disorder offences and released.

Mohammad Asif of the Scottish Afghan Society said 40 people took part in a ‘peaceful protest’ in which the office gates were chained. He added: ‘we chained the gate as a symbolic gesture. If I lock you up for one day, how do you feel for one hour? You are destroying lives forever.’

At least 300 asylum seekers are facing eviction by contractor Serco, which is employed by the Home office, after being refused refugee status.

on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland, Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken called on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to stop the evictions. Council lawyers are seeking ways to ‘supersede’ UK law over the evictions.

Serco chief executive Rupert Soames has said eviction notices would be given to no more than ten people a week for the next four weeks – and none to families with children.