Arrests made after warrants conducted in Cornwall
Police have arrested eight men as part of a crackdown on a suspected ‘Notice of Impending Prosecution (NIP) Farm’ operation in Cornwall.
More than 60 officers today [Tuesday 10 October] conducted 11 warrants and searched a total of 12 residential and commercial premises in Falmouth, Penzance and Newquay.
The Devon and Cornwall Police-led operation was run in partnership with the fire service, Immigration Enforcement and Cornwall Council.
So-called NIP farms are used to supply fake driver details to police in order for motorists to avoid prosecution for traffic offences.
Eight men, aged between their 30s and 50s, were arrested; six on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, with one of them also arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences. Two men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.
All remain in police custody while enquiries continue.
A quantity of suspected illegal tobacco was seized as part of enquiries.
Sector Inspector for Falmouth, Helston and South Kerrier Tim Evans said: “Tackling suspected organised crime and protecting vulnerable people in West Cornwall is a priority for the neighbourhood policing team.
“The action taken today is the culmination of a significant amount of work in conjunction with several partner agencies.
“As a result of our attendance at some of the addresses, police identified unsafe living conditions and a partnership response was required to safeguard vulnerable people.
“We would urge anyone with information to contact police via our website here or by calling 101 quoting Operation Heatlamp.
“Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”
