Police in South Holland took part in a nationwide operation looking at criminality within foreign nationals.
lllegal practices on the roads and in fields and packhouses were the focus of last week’s operation.
Vehicles with foreign-registered number plates on the A16 bypass at Spalding were pulled in for spot checks on their roadworthiness and searched for signs of criminal activity.
And police officers accompanied by Gangmasters Licensing Authority staff visited several sites around Holbeach and Long Sutton to check on foreign nationals’ working conditions.
Sgt Gareth Boxall, of Holbeach and the Suttons Neighbourhood Policing teams, organised the day.
He said dealing with foreign nationals sometimes presents difficulties but partnership working with other agencies was important to keep a check on crimes such as human trafficking.
“It’s about engaging with the foreign nationals so that we understand what’s going on and it’s as much about protecting the foreign national community,” said Sgt Boxall.
He added that sometimes migrant workers can be vulnerable to exploitation so compliance with gangmaster law was checked.
It was the third time Operation Trivium has been held in the last few years.
In this area, last Wednesday’s day of action involved:
six Roads Policing Unit officers
nine Neighbourhood Policing Teams officers
a police intelligence support officer
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency staff
Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority staff.
Sgt Boxall said: “We’ll look at what the successes were. We would hope to do it again in the future.”
