Hereford police chief’s hope after illegal worker crackdown
Food and parcel delivery drivers were targeted in a joint police and immigration operation in Hereford on Tuesday (June 16). The six-hour operation was aimed at identifying potential illegal working and immigration offences, with two people arrested. Sergeant Duncan Reynolds, from West Mercia Police's Hereford city centre team, said food and parcel delivery drivers were the target as more attention is usually given to nail bars and barbers.
"There are a lot of gaps in that type of industry where workers can be exploited, corners can be cut," he said. The operation focused on sectors believed to be vulnerable to exploitation, including delivery drivers working for takeaways and parcel firms. Stay updated with all the latest Herefordshire news that matters to you![1]
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Following checks, it showed that the driver was an overstayer in the UK, and was immediately arrested then for removal. "We've had several cars out, which have been uniformed based vehicles, which are fully marked up, and there's been a police officer inside with an immigration enforcement officer. "So we've been able to identify and stop suspect vehicles, for checks."
He said the operation was "definitely" a success, with two arrests several people being examined by immigration officers. Sergeant Reynolds added: "But the ripple effect of those checks, word will spread within the industry that in Hereford, these checks are being done, and it may put people off committing criminality here. "And it certainly makes it harder to operate if they think they're being checked regularly."
He also emphasised the value of working with partner agencies and expressed gratitude to the public. Sergeant Reynolds said: "The opportunity to work with our enforcement partners helps us to share powers of entry, share powers of prosecution, and the intelligence behind it. "So, I think it really is a thank you to partner agencies as well, for working with us to tackle these issues.
"And again, I thank you to the members of the public for providing us for the intelligence and information that allows us to act on it."
References
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