This sky holding centre in East London, was established in 2005, as a privatised facility for managing both security issues and public perceptions of asylum seekers. The building’s design and structural configuration allows the main holding pod to be physically suspended some way above the city. This ensures actual and visual high security. The large 'always on' display monitor on each elevation provides continuous reassurance of the integrity of all security systems.
This wholly unethical solution to the asylum issue is suggestive of historical antecedents and continues to be under attack from activists and a number of different humanitarian groups who have dubbed the building a 'barrage barrack'.