Newmarket - Day of action tackling exploitation leads to arrests
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Three people have been arrested following a day of action in Newmarket aimed at tackling exploitation, immigration offences and other associated criminality.
The intelligence-led activity took place on Tuesday 1 July when police and immigration enforcement officers from the Home Office and Trading Standards attended 10 businesses, targeting nail bars, barbers, restaurants and convenience stores.
Trading Standards seized 1,244 packets of illegal tobacco and a large quantity of illegal vapes and cigarettes from the searched properties.
The day of action resulted in two people being arrested on suspicion of Immigration Act offences, who will be dealt with by Immigration Services, and one person being arrested for disqualified driving.
As well as the arrests, numerous employees were spoken to over the course of the visits, with officers focusing on safeguarding them from possible exploitation.
Speaking about the operation, Suffolk Constabulary’s Modern Slavery Vulnerability Advisor John French said: “Modern Slavery and exploitation is known to be present in all our communities. Both slavery and exploitation can be linked to organised immigration crime. Multi-agency operations such as today are an essential element in both identifying victims and pursuing those who look to profit by exploiting the vulnerable.”
If you suspect someone is employing illegal workers at their business, report this to the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation helpline on 08000 121 700. It is free, confidential, open 24 hours and available in 200 languages. Alternatively report online via https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report.
If someone is in immediate danger, please call police on 999. Visit www.unseenuk.org for more information about the common signs of exploitation and how to report it.
For more information about the work in Suffolk to tackle Modern Slavery www.suffolk.gov.uk/ModernSlavery.
Further advice and support can be found via The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) which works to protect vulnerable and exploited workers
0800 432 0804