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| Cambridgeshire Police carry out migrant worker raids | Cambridgeshire Police carry out migrant worker raids |
| (35 minutes 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 people were arrested in Wisbech and March in 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 area and involved police, the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA). | |
| It comes two weeks after a BBC investigation into the plight of workers in the Fens. | It comes two weeks after a BBC investigation into the plight of workers in the Fens. |
| Eastern Europeans, mostly from Latvia and Lithuania, are employed to pick leeks across the region for UK supermarkets. | Eastern Europeans, mostly from Latvia and Lithuania, are employed to pick leeks across the region for UK supermarkets. |
| The nine arrested - seven men and two women - were taken into custody at about 03:30 BST in simultaneous raids. | |
| Among them 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. | 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. | Roberto Mac Ltd and Slender Contracting Ltd have had their licences suspended with immediate effect. |
| Clothing and food | Clothing and food |
| A reception centre has been set up to accommodate workers displaced by the raids. | A reception centre has been set up to accommodate workers displaced by the raids. |
| 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 Red Cross is offering first aid, clothing and food as well as people for victims to speak to. | |
| 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 before Tuesday that 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: | 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. | 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. |