Illegal oyster pickers arrested on seafront

The arrests came after officers mounted surveillance on the estuary in an operation against the use of illegal immigrants as forced labour to pick up shellfish.

The swoop was part of a month-long countywide operation involving police and other agencies.

The operation is focusing on exploitation of all kinds, and aims to identify and protect victims of trafficking, prostitution, forced labour, abuse and exploitation.

The two men arrested in Southend were are 21 and 38.

They were referred to the UK Border Agency for immigration offences.

The 38-year-old man arrested on the seafront has since been released on bail while the Border Agency processes his deportation papers. The 21- year-old looks likely to be allowed to stay inBritain, as his application for leave to remain looks set to be granted.

Retired fisherman Peter Wexham, who is also a Lib Dem borough councillor for Leigh ward, said: “I welcome the police taking action. It might deter others from coming as well.

“We have been asking for something to be done for three or four years, so I’m pleased they are trying to control the situation.

“If these people are hiding under the cover of being here illegally, they won’t have much money, and that puts them at risk of being taken advantage of.”

Det Chief Insp Stuart Hooper said: “As part of this operation we are exploring every possible avenue in relation to human trafficking.

“Oyster picking involves hours of intense work and there is a possibility victims of human trafficking could be forced into labour.

“Essex has a number of ports. As well as Tilbury, we also have Harwich Port, Stansted Airport, Southend Airport and London Gateway which all provide means of entry, which could be exploited by traffickers.

“Modern slavery goes beyond just the trafficking of people. It is also about their exploitation.

“Prostitution, forced labour, servitude and even the removal of vital organs for sale on the black market are all forms of abuse which make up modern slavery.”

As part of the operation, an Essex man was arrested and charged with intentionally facilitating travel of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, managing a brothel and controlling prostitution for gain.

Gheorge Negreanu, 24, of Wycke Hill, Maldon, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Council probe to be extended

SOUTHEND Council’s own investigation into oyster picking is being extended.

The council says its environmental health officers will now continue looking into the trade in shellfish harvested from the foreshore until the end of the year.

They have been investigating what is being gathered and where it goes as part of a wider Food Standards Agency study, aimed at stopping untreated oysters reaching restaurant tables.

The £75,000 year-long project was due to finish last month, but the agency has told the council to continue its research. Officers have seized 1.6 tonnes of live shellfish from pickers leaving the Southend foreshore in the past yea and joined the police when the two illegal workers were arrested.

The council passes on information about the immigration status of pickers and any evidence of exploitation by gang masters to the authorities.

Mike Assenheim, Southend councillor responsible for such matters, said: “This was part of a joint operation with the police, but as this is subject to an investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further at this point.

“We are, of course, assisting the police with their inquiries.”

Shellfish and the law

It is perfectly legal to pick oysters from Southend foreshore for personal consumption – but illegal to harvest them for commercial purposes without a licence

To sell them to restaurants or other businesses, pickers need a registration document from the London Port Health Authority

Those without documentation risk fines of as much as £5,000.

However, the law is far from clear about what counts as personal consumption, leaving it to magistrates to judge on a case-by-case basis

Councils are responsible for enforcing the law, which is aimed at keeping potentially unsafe shellfsh off the market.

Officials challenge pickers who appear to be landing large hauls.

The defendants then have to try to persuade a court their family consumes such huge amounts of seafood. Consequently, most give up their catches voluntarily

Some locals have reported gangs of pickers of East Asian heritage scouring the foreshore for oysters to sell to swish London restaurants

The 2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster involved the death by drowning of at least 21 Chinese illegal immigrants as the tide came racing in

However, half the oysters seized by officials were picked by white, British pickers