A coordinated, multi-agency operation involving the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority and Hampshire Constabulary has taken place on the Isle of Wight today (Thursday).
A number of engagement visits have been carried out to agricultural sites, horticultural businesses and food production/processing plants over the past few weeks as part of a national operation to ensure that farmers and business owners are getting the help that they need and that their workers are not at risk of exploitation.
Today, the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), Hampshire Police, Home Office Immigration and the Department for Work and Pensions have been at APS Produce in Arreton.
Although there has been no indication of any wrongdoing at Arreton, APS is a major employer of foreign labour on the Island.
Throughout the day officers have been working closely with staff and management at the site, providing education about the modern slavery and human trafficking threat and issues concerning labour offences across the industry. This included advice on how to spot the signs of modern slavery and who to turn to for intervention and support.
A dedicated area was established using a marquee, enabling social distancing and to assist with the unique health and safety precautions.
Richard Burgess, Regional Officer for modern slavery and human trafficking crime, says:
“Our presence here today has been entirely positive, from the perspective of all involved. We’ve had the opportunity of strengthening the relationships we have with the site operators, its employees as well as our relevant stakeholders”.
Specialist Investigations officers from the GLAA, alongside their partner agencies, are undertaking activity to raise awareness of labour exploitation. The nationwide action aims to identify to what extent persons are being exploited for the purposes of labour exploitation, particularly in the areas of agriculture and food processing and potential high-risk enablers such as recruitment agencies.
Part of the operation is to conduct intelligence gathering from a variety of sources to allow for an updated assessment of the modern slavery and human trafficking threat.
GLAA Senior Investigating Officer Jennifer Baines previously said:
“Despite the obvious challenges this awful virus has presented, we remain committed as an organisation to not only be heard by frontline workers during the crisis but also to be seen. They are doing an incredibly important job for the country at this difficult time which we recognise and want to help them with.
“We understand the pressures farmers and growers are currently facing in picking and harvesting crops, not only during this pandemic but beyond. As the coronavirus crisis subsides, we know that there will be uncertainties around the availability of foreign workers and the booking of future travel.
“In these times, more than ever, it’s vital that you report any concerns or suspicions that you have to us. The potential for labour shortages in the near future could create conditions in which exploitation can thrive if we are not alive to the risks.”
You can report concerns to the GLAA’s intelligence team by calling 0800 4320804 or by emailing [email protected].
About time too. No longer will the island be the place for “Gangmasters” the name in itself smacks of modern slavery. Let’s hope they don’t only target places that “employ” foreign workers, a lot of disabled workers are mistreated here also. Well done to the authorities for stepping up to the plate. Let’s hope there is not a cover up of this one.
Without our foreign colleagues we probably wouldn’t have fresh food and salad items on the table at this current time.
On the other hand it could be argued that we would have far less extremist terror stabbings, shooting, rape, child gang rape, mugging, acid attacks, riots, overcrowding, stealing, drug dealing, modern day s ex slavery.
So I guess the cost employed in housing, feeding, treating, educating, courts, jail, NHS plastic surgery, rape crisis centres, mental health by the victims of such vile crimes costs, and just sheer overcrowding, makes ‘many’ question whether the perceived ‘gain’ is really worth it at times.
Especially when one considers that many of these people earn little, so pay in nothing or pence but then claim hundreds a week via free rent, council tax, child tax credits, child allowance, free NHS and educational costs.
So the so called ‘cheap’ labour comes at a high price for everyone BUT the employer of such.
Understand they don’t come here for OUR benefit, but for their own
Well put Cannyboy
So ignorant, I long for a future when such vile attitudes have died out along with one presumes, the older generations, that hold onto them.. hope for the future lies with those who respect all peoples without deep seated non factual predjudices that make you just want to howl with anger, where does such xenophobia come from, it has to be carefully taught knee high but thank God is for most rejected when a person becomes old enough to think for themselves.. if not then what hope is there for the planet or the future of man
Clive you fail to see the problem here.
IF a family arrived at your door, moved themselves in, uninvited, and expected you to supply their food, energy needs, health care, education, housing, council tax, maternity pay for ever numerous child they have, child allowance, child tax credits, money to live, a pension,etc then surely YOU can see that you could likely not afford to support this family, who, just ‘decided’ to better their lot in life but in doing so ruined someone else’s living standard.
Times this family by millions waiting to come and even the thickest in society can see the same problems are then inflicted upon the whole country.
Even if they work, then the huge amounts here, and waiting to arrive will still ruin our small country even smaller island, and add to landfill, traffic overcrowding, CO2, flooding, loss of wild life green spaces etc as more of Britain is destroyed to house those just understandably ‘wanting’ a better life.
There are many people here ‘wanting’ a better life, but we don’t all expect some other land to give up what their ancestors struggled, worked hard for and fought and died for to provide for them, NOT any chancer.
IF you wish to help such, give to Oxfam, don’t inflict your misguided charity onto others who may have to endure the problems which YOU obviously can now afford to live away from.