ROCUs support organised immigration crackdown on UK high streets

ROCUs across the country have supported a nation-wide crackdown on organised immigration crime across the UK.

Dozens of suspects who entered the UK on small boats were arrested during an opeartion by police and Immigration Enforcement which saw more than 360 arrests.

Officers also seized over £1m in cash, over £700,000 in illegal tobacco, vapes and cigarettes, 92 cars and 31 e-bikes.

The intelligence-led operation, orchestrated by the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce, saw the National Police Chiefs’ Council working closely with police forces alongside agencies including the Home Office, Immigration Enforcement and Trading Standards.

Between 15 June and 20 June, the operation focused on disrupting activity linked to organised immigration crime at premises such as barber shops, vape shops, car washes, food production, and nail salons.

Criminal gangs often target these businesses as they provide opportunities to conceal illegal working, to exploit vulnerable migrants, and to launder proceeds of crime.

The operation included:

• Involvement from 39 police forces and 177 deployments across the UK, with activity based on Home Office and local force intelligence.
• Law enforcement partners from the Home Office, Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, National Crime Agency, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Fair Work Agency, Department of Work and Pension, and charities including GAIN and Justice and Care.
• Visits to 911 businesses/premises by police and Immigration Enforcement.
• Over 4,000 encounters with individuals at premises visited.
• Over 1,000 vehicles stopped.

Results included:

• 362 arrests, of which 269 were related to immigration offences.
• Over £1m in cash seized.
• Over £700,000 (street value) of illegal tobacco, cigarettes and vapes seized.
• 73 civil penalty referral notices issued to businesses, carrying a maximum possible penalty of £60,000 per illegal worker.
• £131,000 (street value) of drugs seized.
• 92 cars and 31 e-bikes and scooters seized.

Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce lead, DCC Wendy Gunney, said:

“Thanks to the collective power of police and Home Office organised immigration crime intelligence, we have been able to target businesses on our high streets involved in money laundering, drug trafficking and distribution, modern slavery and human trafficking.  “This multi-agency activity sends a clear message to organised crime gangs that law enforcement agencies are working together to tackle illegal trade within our communities, and to bring offenders to justice. "Over one week alone, collective efforts have led to more than 350 arrests, £1m in cash seized along with over £700,000 worth of illegal tobacco, vapes and cigarettes. We are also in the process of considering civil penalties as we have targeted business owners, their business models and those connected with employing migrants through illegal working.  “We will not tolerate exploitation within the UK, and we are determined to target the business owners who openly encourage this. “Organised immigration crime is often hidden in plain sight, and we are urging the public to report anything that doesn’t feel right in businesses on their streets, or if they are concerned about someone’s welfare. “Reporting can help protect people and catch those responsible by supporting police to gather intelligence that builds a picture of what is happening in our communities. “We take all information from the public seriously and will act upon it. You can raise concerns by contacting your local police force online or by calling 101, or report via the Home Office endorsed charity Stop the Traffick.”

Results across the ROCUs included:

Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU)

The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit supported activity with West Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police, Humberside Police and North Yorkshire Police.

• 24 immigration arrests (10 in Humberside, seven in South Yorkshire, seven in West Yorkshire, and two other arrests) – of these arrests, seven were small boat entrants – two in South Yorkshire and five in West Yorkshire.
• 2kg of cannabis, worth about £7,000, was seized in West Yorkshire and £5,000 of suspected criminal cash was seized in South Yorkshire.
• 38 businesses visited – 31 in West Yorkshire, six in South Yorkshire and one in Humberside
• 138 people were interacted with across the intensification

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Horsfield, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “Organised immigration crime is a complex challenge and has been recognised in the UK as a national high-priority threat. Officers from Yorkshire and Humberside are committed to working together to combat this.”

North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU)

The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) ran operations and supported activity with Durham Constabulary, Cleveland Police and Northumbria Police. In total they:

• Ran five dedicated operations
• Made nine arrests
• Handed out £420,000 in fines
• Carried out 101 person and vehicle checks
• Issued one Closure Order
• Seized a quanity of Cannabis and illegal cigarettes
• Seized two vehicles

NEROCU Detective Inspector Gaye Martin, said: "This has been a full-bodied display of the power of partnership policing. This national operation has seen huge successes and I want to thank everyone who worked across the North East to contribute to these positive outcomes.

“Our efforts will not stop here and work across our region will continue to ensure anyone harming communities or exploiting the vulnerable see the consequences of their actions.”

North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU)

The Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce Coordinator, based within the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, brought together all six North West police forces to ensure those operating illegally across the service sector felt the full force of the law. In total they saw:

• visited 257 businesses
• Made 58 arrests (of which 10 were from entry via small boats by Merseyside Police)
• 111 vehicles stopped and 19 cars were seized
• 3 Mopeds/E-bikes seized
• Greater Manchester Police seized £1M under POCA
• Merseyside Police seized over £20K
• Just under £1m worth of Civil Penalty Referral Notices were issued to businesses
• Various amounts of tobacco and vapes were seized

NWROCU Detective Inspector Kim Hames-Evans said:

“The public know that criminality on our high streets is both visible and damaging, and we know that elements of the service sector can be exploited by those who perpetrate organised immigration crime. We worked tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to share intelligence, expertise and resources, ensuring a coordinated response to this complex issue.

“The North West saw the highest number of law enforcement deployments in the country during this operation, and the results speak for themselves. While there is still much work to do, these outcomes demonstrate our commitment to disrupting serious and organised crime, using every available tactic to target those who seek to exploit our communities.”

East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU)

Forces in the East Midlands were supported by EMSOU, during enforcement activity across the region.

The results included 10 arrests and the nation-wide crackdown's largest seizure of illicit tobacco - worth more than half a million pounds - in Lincolnshire, and 11 arrests and the seizure of seven vehicles in Derbyshire.

EMSOU’s Harry Dick coordinated the regional activity. He said:

“Our work to identify and target perpetrators of organised immigration crime can only be effectively achieved through a collaborative effort with other agencies and these results – which are just a snapshot of the work we undertake throughout the year – demonstrate the power we can exert if we work together.

“And you can help. Organised immigration crime threatens the integrity of our borders, erodes our economy and, more often than not, hurts vulnerable people.

“If something doesn’t feel right about a local business on your high street, or you have concerns about someone’s welfare, report it.”