Four men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after police visited a car wash and shops in the city. The arrests were made as part of an operation targeting illegal workers and exploitation.
West Midlands Police carried out the arrest on High Street in Erdington, Birmingham, on Friday, January 10. Police officers visited the area alongside immigration officials as part of its Operation Fearless.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Operation Fearless officers teamed up with immigration officials to target illegal working and the exploitation and vulnerable in Erdington. We visited shops and a car wash in and around the High Street to check for people working illegally.
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“Four men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and enquiries continue. Officers trained in helping victims of exploitation also joined the operation, and spoke to workers at a number of businesses.”
West Midlands Police said the aim of Operation Fearless was to “drive down crime” and “improve the quality of life” for people in Erdington. The operation launched on Tuesday (January 8).
Det Supt Jim Munro, from Operation Fearless, said: “This has again shown how we’re committed to working with partners to make Erdington safer and a better place for everyone. We know that where people are in the country and working illegally, they are often exploited and become victims of other types of crime.
“So it’s important that we work with our immigration colleagues to tackle the issues. Where we suspect criminals are profiting financially from the exploitation of illegal workers, we will always take action.”