CAMPAIGNING organisation Living Rent has pledged to target both Serco and Mears Group – the company due to take over the Home Office contract to house asylum seekers – unless they agree to stop evicting asylum seekers by changing their locks.

Serco announced earlier this month it would re-start planned lock changes before handing over the contract to Mears in September. Eviction letters to refused asylum seekers were delivered, with the 14-day notice period ending on Friday. It is expected that 30 refused asylum seekers will then be served with a seven-day lock-change notice.

In response, Living Rent launched its campaign against the planned evictions last week, holding protests outside both Serco’s offices in the south side of Glasgow on Thursday evening and Mears Group’s city centre office yesterday.

Protestors added padlocks to a “symbolic chain” hung outside office doors, warning that direct action would follow unless the private contractors committed not to carry not lock changes.

READ MORE: Serco's lock-change plans 'putting lives at risk' in Glasgow

Sean Baillie, co-ordinator of tenant’s union Living Rent, said the attempt to change locks and remove people from their homes without a court order was “a violent intrusion into our communities, and terrifying insight into a possible future for everyone who rents their home”.

He added: “We have mapped out the extensive network of public and private contracts held by both Serco and Mears. Unless the decision is taken to stop these lock changes every business, business partner and shareholder can expect a visit from our members over the summer.

“We have also begun talks with trade unions and their members directly employed by Serco and Mears. Serco currently run various workplaces throughout Scotland. These include the Caledonian sleeper train and Wishaw General Hospital. Mears have extensive contracts with North Lanarkshire Council and Glasgow Housing Associations all of which are susceptible to the same public pressure.”

Living Rent is part of the No evictions campaign network, which it helped to set-up with organisations including the Unity Centre and Migrants Organising for Rights and Empowerment (MORE), which last week announced it successfully prevented a planned eviction in Maryhill. It claims that it will mount similar “street presence” protests in areas where evictions are proposed.

“We currently have over 3500 people organised into neighbourhood teams, these include members of the organisations above but also Church ministers, politicians, local businesses and working class neighbours,” said Baillie.

“This is no longer a hidden fringe issue, people across Glasgow are angry and organised; it would be a mistake by either company to push ahead with these lock changes.”

READ MORE: Leading lawyer to challenge all 300 Serco evictions of asylum seekers

Jenni Halliday, Serco COMPASS contract director, said she was pleased Thursday’s protest, at which there was a large police presence, was peaceful. She added: “We are grateful to Police Scotland for their support. Our staff, who are all Glaswegians, were safe and well at all times and continue to provide accommodation and support to over 5000 asylum seekers who are still having their claims assessed.”

A spokesman for Mears Group, which will take on responsibility for “eligible” asylum seekers in September said: “The current issues regarding ineligible asylum seekers are matters for the Home Office and the current contractor.

“We are in the process of agreeing an approach that is appropriate for the new contract and are in discussions with the Home Office, Glasgow City Council and stakeholders.

“Mears are committed to supporting all those in our accommodation. In cases where an individual is refused, we will follow the due legal process, respect all rights of review and appeal, and make sure that they have access to advice and support to reach the best outcome.”