With Turkey still a contender for the European Union, immigration and asylum laws are tougher than those from member countries. Many Turkish people feel they are looked down upon as foreigners and often feel like second class citizens. I stopped down in Haringey, the Turkish hub of London, to get the views of a few Turkish immigrants on what they would like to change about living here.

I will refer to the interviewees as A, B and C.

Turkish Person A

DP: What do you like about this country?

A: We are free in this country, in so many ways.

DP: What don’t you like about this country?

A: It can be quite racist. I feel it’s not my place because of the language barrier. I often feel I don’t belong here. I feel I am frowned upon because I’m not English.

The transport, when you’re with a pushchair it’s a nightmare. Most of the bus drivers don’t stop. The drivers on public transport are so rude.

DP: What do you think about the violence between young gangs in the area?

A: It’s terrible, especially in schools. I don’t want to keep my child here, I want to move abroad. The teachers don’t have any power because of the law. They can’t have any discipline or keep the situation under control because of the law. They can’t touch the kids.

DP: Do you think they should be able to have some discipline over children?

A: Of course! Why not?

DP: They used to have the cane a long time ago and they took that away. Are you in favour of something like that again?

A: Not like beating the kids, but they need to have a bit more control or power. The kids don’t have any respect for teachers.

DP: What else?

A: Prices go up and our salaries stay the same. For food, drink, everything. I’m worried it will soon be like ex-Russia. A complete nightmare.

Turkish Person B

DP: How long have you been here?

B: 42 years.

DP: What do you like about the country?

B: The system. People here are more polite than many other countries. Over the years I have realised there is something in common here. All the people seem to be working together. But there are a lot of immigrants; they don’t do what they should.

DP: What do you mean by what they ‘should’ be doing?

B: To follow the system here. A lot of people they use the system. They don’t work, they're claiming and they work. They're not disabled and claiming they are.

DP: What don’t you personally like about this country?

B: All these cameras. When driving there is no warning. They take pictures and send you a bill. I feel I’m being tricked into paying fines.

DP: What do you think about gang culture?

B: I don’t blame the schools, I blame the parents. The government should look at it.

Turkish Person C

DP: How long have you been here?

C: 47 years.

DP: What do you like about the UK?

C: Nothing

DP: What don’t you like then?

C: Everything, the people, the government.

DP: tell me something you think is funny about this country.

C: The weather.