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Cambridgeshire Police carry out migrant worker raids Cambridgeshire Police carry out migrant worker raids
(about 2 hours later)
Three hundred officers have carried out early morning raids linked to suspected exploitation of migrant workers.Three hundred officers have carried out early morning raids linked to suspected exploitation of migrant workers.
Nine arrests were made in the Wisbech and March areas of Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn in Norfolk. Nine people were arrested in Wisbech and March in Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn in Norfolk.
The operation is the biggest of its kind in the county and involved police, the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA).The operation is the biggest of its kind in the county and involved police, the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA).
It comes two weeks after a BBC investigation into the treatment of workers picking leeks in the Fens. It comes two weeks after a BBC investigation into the plight of workers in the Fens.
Those arrested are being questioned on suspicion of various offences, including fraud, at March police station. Eastern Europeans, mostly from Latvia and Lithuania, are employed to pick leeks across the region for UK supermarkets.
Among those in police custody is Latvian national Ivar Mezals, who was arrested at a house in Wisbech at about 03:00 BST. The nine - seven men and two women - were arrested at about 3:30 BST in simultaneous raids.
Gangmasters Roberto Mac Ltd and Slender Contracting Ltd had their licences suspended on Tuesday, with immediate effect. Among those in police custody is Latvian national Ivars Mezals, who is in his mid-20s and was arrested at a house in Wisbech.
Legal gangmasters Roberto Mac and Martyn Slender, both of March, are also being questioned.
Roberto Mac Ltd and Slender Contracting Ltd have had their licences suspended with immediate effect.
Clothing and foodClothing and food
A reception centre has been set up to accommodate workers, mainly from Latvia and Lithuania, affected by the raids. A reception centre has been set up to accommodate workers displaced by the raids.
The Red Cross is offering first aid, clothing and food as well as people for victims to speak to.The Red Cross is offering first aid, clothing and food as well as people for victims to speak to.
Cambridgeshire Police said the Salvation Army would help support potential victims of trafficking.Cambridgeshire Police said the Salvation Army would help support potential victims of trafficking.
The raids were the culmination of months of investigations by police and the GLA into the exploitation of migrant workers in the Wisbech area.The raids were the culmination of months of investigations by police and the GLA into the exploitation of migrant workers in the Wisbech area.
It began when officers looked into the poor living conditions many migrant workers were being housed in.It began when officers looked into the poor living conditions many migrant workers were being housed in.
Chief Inspector Mike Winters said the operation was "targeting those who gain from others' suffering".Chief Inspector Mike Winters said the operation was "targeting those who gain from others' suffering".
"Victims are promised a better life in the UK with well-paid work but often end up in over-crowded accommodation and immediately placed in debt to a gangmaster who controls their affairs," he said."Victims are promised a better life in the UK with well-paid work but often end up in over-crowded accommodation and immediately placed in debt to a gangmaster who controls their affairs," he said.
"They are paid wages well below the legal minimum for extremely long hours and their pay is often taken to service debt on their accommodation.""They are paid wages well below the legal minimum for extremely long hours and their pay is often taken to service debt on their accommodation."
Police said that ahead of Tuesday's raids they had already identified 34 victims, 11 of whom were being given support and protection. Police said before Tuesday that they had already identified 34 victims, 11 of whom were being given support and protection.
Eight of the nine people arrested are being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. They are:
A 22-year-old woman from Wisbech was arrested on suspicion of possessing a section 5 firearm, namely a pepper spray, and was taken into custody at King's Lynn.