Mike Dailly, principal solicitor of the new Govanhill Law Centre which opens this morning (Wednesday) has pledged to assist the mainly Slovakian Roma families who love in the area immediately surrounding the new law clinic.

“This is the first new law centre to open in Scotland in a decade and we will work hard to earn your trust and confidence. We will work with you, because together we are stronger," he said.

"Together we can root out the slum landlords and the gangmasters. Together we can expose the Mr Bigs and their criminal practices. Govanhill Law Centre will always be on your side, and we’ll always help you fight your corner. It’s your community and it’s time to claim it back from the unscrupulous private landlords, gangmasters and criminals.”

“Our first case will be to instruct one of Scotland’s top QCs, Roy Martin, to provide a legal opinion on how compulsory purchase legislation can be used to eradicate substandard private rented accommodation in Govanhill. I am not aware of compulsory purchase powers being used on such a scale for tenement flats in the private rented sector but we must explore every option. We are grateful that Councillor Purcell has made a personal commitment to do all that he can to tackle the problems facing Govanhill."

Dailly was backed by Lord Advocate, the Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC, who will appear with him at today's opening.

"Govanhill Law Centre provides a very valuable rights based facility for some of the most vulnerable members of our community," she said.

"As a young woman growing up in Glasgow, I was struck by the inequality of opportunity which existed for people who did not have proper access to clear information; and as a result could miss out on services and advice which were available to them. I am proud to be asked to open this centre and tremendously supportive of its work.”