Would you want John Reid to wake
you up at 5am?
Photograph: Home Office/PAIs John Reid auditioning for the Sweeney?
The home secretary today joined a dawn raid of houses where suspected foreign nationals due for deportation were thought to be residing.
Press stunt it may be. We're only surpised the police felt it necessary to turn up as back up.
The sight of John "See you, Jimmy!" Reid breaking down your front door at 5am this morning would be enough to get most people on the next flight home ...
It's most unusual for a home secretary to accompany a police raid. According to his spokesman, Dr Reid witnessed teams forcing entry to four homes in London beginning at 5am. Those officers watched by the home secretary made two arrests, while another team earlier given a "rallying call" by Mr Reid detained a Jamaican national who had been released from jail for manslaughter, the spokesman said.
Dr Reid last week gave a scathing thumbnail sketch of his new department, describing the immigration directorate as "not fit for purpose" and criticising personel, leadership and IT systems across the Home Office.
