Deportation demo blasted by Home Office

HOME Office officials have slammed protesters who tried to block an immigration enforcement operation.

Two people have been placed on immigration bail after an incident which saw crowds obstruct officers in Edinburgh.

A standoff occurred at around 7pm on Thursday evening in Nicolson Square. Images shared online showed at least two people sitting on top of a white van believed to be involved in the operation and demonstrators were pictured with huge banners that read ‘No peace for Police Scotland’ and ‘Stop Deportations’.

Shortly after 8pm, a spokesman for the protesters said Home Office employees had ‘given a commitment to leave’.

A Home Office spokesman said yesterday: ‘It is unacceptable for people to attempt to block legitimate actions of law enforcement as they work to remove those with no right to live or work in the UK.’

The spokesman said the department was trying to make the system ‘fair to those in genuine need’ and it was ‘wrong’ to suggest that the protesters had an impact on the outcome.