Asylum seekers are taken into detention early in the morning when they are most likely to be at home, and will be foggy as they are awakened from deep sleep. Immigration officials conduct the raid, accompanied by flack-jacketed police. The police arrest males over 18, and handcuff them.

For this community, as for many other asylum seeker communities in the UK, having friends and neighbours disappear is a way of life. And, one day, it will be their door that police and immigration officials knock on at 6am.

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Morning lookout. A resident of Kingsway Court scans the parking lot for immigration vehicles. He does this every morning, from 6-7am. He knows that one day, the vans will be coming for him and his family. Kingsway, Glasgow. 6:30 am, Octob

Morning lookout. A resident of Kingsway Court scans the parking lot for immigration vehicles. He does this every morning, from 6-7am. He knows that one day, the vans will be coming for him and his family.
Kingsway, Glasgow. 6:30 am, October 2005

Gezim’s wife looks at the camera as the van pulls out of Kingsway Court. 40 minutes ago she was asleep. Now she will be taken to the Home Office premises at Brand St, Govan. The family will then be driven south to a removal centre, where they w

Gezim’s wife looks at the camera as the van pulls out of Kingsway Court. 40 minutes ago she was asleep. Now she will be taken to the Home Office premises at Brand St, Govan. The family will then be driven south to a removal centre, where they will be held until they are deported from the UK.
Kingsway, Glasgow. 7:20am, 20 September 2005

The second van returns from a dawn raid with an unknown boy inside. During the three months Robin photographed asylum seekers in Glasgow, the media and activist organisations picked up on only three families who were taken away in ‘dawn raids’.

The second van returns from a dawn raid with an unknown boy inside. During the three months Robin photographed asylum seekers in Glasgow, the media and activist organisations picked up on only three families who were taken away in ‘dawn raids’. The reality is that far more families and individuals get taken away. 3460 failed asylum seekers were removed from the UK during the third quarter of 2005*. As the majority of these people do not have a support network nobody lobbies for their cause, or even registers that they have been taken away.
Brand St, Glasgow. 7:55am, 16 November 2005

*(IND website, 22 November 2005)

 

 

3 vehicles leave the Home Office premises at Brand St on a ‘dawn raid’. In front is a grey hatchback, behind is the caged van with dark windows. This van contains police officers and will transport males over 18. The last van, containing immigr

3 vehicles leave the Home Office premises at Brand St on a ‘dawn raid’. In front is a grey hatchback, behind is the caged van with dark windows. This van contains police officers and will transport males over 18. The last van, containing immigration officials (pulling out of the gates) is a clear windowed van that will contain women and children.
Brand St, Glasgow. 6:30am, 16 November 2005

Gezim’s baby is strapped into the van by immigration officers. The police had asked Robin not to photograph proceedings close up because his actions would ‘traumatise the children involved’. He pointed out the panicked cries of ‘Immigration! Im

Gezim’s baby is strapped into the van by immigration officers. The police had asked Robin not to photograph proceedings close up because his actions would ‘traumatise the children involved’. He pointed out the panicked cries of ‘Immigration! Immigration!’ echoing between the buildings of Kingsway Court as evidence that he was unlikely to be the primary source of trauma that morning.
Kingsway, Glasgow. 7:20am, 20 September 2005

Immigration officers load the second van with the family’s belongings. They had been in the building around half an hour. Families are given minimal time to prepare before being taken to the immigration vans. Kingsway, Glasgow. 20 September 20

Immigration officers load the second van with the family’s belongings. They had been in the building around half an hour. Families are given minimal time to prepare before being taken to the immigration vans.
Kingsway, Glasgow. 20 September 2005

Gezim, an Albanian asylum seeker, is taken away in handcuffs shortly after 7am. Gezim had been in Glasgow for about a year. He studied at Anniesland college. Until Robin showed people in Kingsway Court this photograph, no one knew who had been

Gezim, an Albanian asylum seeker, is taken away in handcuffs shortly after 7am. Gezim had been in Glasgow for about a year. He studied at Anniesland college. Until Robin showed people in Kingsway Court this photograph, no one knew who had been taken away that morning.
Kingsway, Glasgow, 7:05am, 20 September 2005