Delivery drivers arrested after raid at caravan park (original) (raw)

Seventeen people, all believed to have been working illegally as delivery drivers, have been arrested at a caravan park. A raid was carried out at a caravan park in Bristol after a tip-off to the Home Office.

All were believed to be working illegally as delivery drivers,according to the Home Office. Of those arrested, 13 had overstayed their permitted leave, two were in breach of their visa conditions and two had breached their immigration bail conditions. Of the 17, 13 have been detained, pending potential removal from the UK.

The four individuals not detained were placed on immigration bail and will be required to report regularly to the Home Office. Delivery drivers employed by big name companies are paid per job and not employed directly by the company, meaning they work for longer hours and often earn significantly less than the national minimum wage.

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Those who exploit the labour market often take advantage of migrants who are desperate to make money and leave them subject to unsafe and squalid working conditions for little cash. The Home Office said this operation is just one part of a larger effort to tackle illegal working and the exploitation of those vulnerable to it. It is, they say, part of an "intensified crackdown" on illegal working. For the latest politics news in Wales sign up to our newsletter here.

Minister for border security and asylum Angela Eagle, said: "We are determined to clamp down both on illegal working and the exploitative treatment of illegal workers. Those working without the correct immigration status and worker’s rights can find themselves in unsafe and insecure conditions, facing exploitation and even modern-day slavery, often facilitated by organised criminal gangs.

"We are taking action to smash the gangs by creating the new Border Security Command, which will coordinate the work of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tackle organised immigration crime."

Director of enforcement, compliance and crime at Immigration Enforcement, Eddy Montgomery said: "This operation sends a clear message to those who seek to exploit the labour market to employ workers illegally, and those who believe they can work here without the correct status – the Home Office is committed to enforcing immigration law and will not tolerate any abuse. It is our priority to uphold border security and to ensure the criminals who seek to exploit it face serious consequences."

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