Unlicensed gangmaster arrest in Nottinghamshire

A man has been arrested on suspicion of gangmaster offences after investigators conducted a raid at a farm in Nottinghamshire.

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and Immigration Enforcement carried out the operation in Calverton on the afternoon of Thursday October 12.

A 41-year-old Belgian national was arrested by the GLAA on suspicion of acting as a gangmaster without a licence.

He has been released on bail until December.

Searches were also made by the GLAA of addresses in Lowdham and Nottingham in addition to the location in Calverton.

Investigations are ongoing.

GLAA Investigating Officer Dale Walker said: “We responded to intelligence indicating the alleged unlicensed supply of workers in the agricultural sector. Anyone who supplies workers into this sector must be licensed by the GLAA.

“As an agency we are committed to enforcing a robust and effective licensing scheme so businesses are not undercut and workers receive all the rights they are entitled to by law.

“The activity this week was only made possible by the support and commitment of our partner agencies who were generous with the time and resource they made available to us for the operation. Partnership working is crucial in protecting vulnerable workers from exploitation.”

If you have information indicating the unlicensed supply of labour in the GLAA’s regulated sectors of agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering, and food processing and packaging, you can contact the authority by emailing intelligence@gla.gov.uk or by using the online reporting form.