Six arrested and hundreds of vehicles searched in organised immigration crime crackdown
Six people have been arrested and more than 600 vehicles searched during a major police operation targeting organised immigration crime across Yorkshire and the Humber.
Officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) searched 645 vehicles and spoke to 412 people as part of Operation Lockstream, a national initiative targeting organised immigration crime.
The operation aims to identify and disrupt organised crime groups involved in facilitating illegal entry into the UK, while protecting vulnerable people from exploitation and bringing offenders to justice.
A two-week period of intensified activity took place between Monday (Sep 21) and Monday (Oct 5), focusing on road, rail and port networks across the region.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police worked alongside Border Force colleagues during 17 multi-agency operations.
The activity focused on the region's motorway network and the Humberside port area, with officers seeking to deter organised criminal groups from using transport routes.
During the operation, police seized ten cars and 16 e-bikes as part of efforts to protect road networks and tackle illegal working.
Officers also issued 62 fines for traffic offences, totalling £8,550.
Six people were arrested in connection with organised immigration crime, fraud and other offences.
The operation also generated 63 intelligence reports, including 53 relating to organised immigration threats.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Horsfield, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "Organised Immigration Crime is a complex and evolving threat and has been recognised in the UK as a national high-priority threat.
"Intelligence and evidence gathered will feed into further investigations and activity. It will help to inform how those using small boats are subsequently utilising the UK’s road and rail network and focusing on other possible clandestine methods of entry through ports and the onward use of road and rail.
"By disrupting organised criminal use transport networks, police and partners are protecting vulnerable people, reducing criminal activity and making it harder for organised crime groups to operate.
"The intensification period highlights the continued work that our officers and partners do to protect our region."