Four individuals have been arrested under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

The arrests follow an investigation into concerns regarding unlicensed gangmasters tasking individuals to harvest clams from an unclassified beach where there were concerns of ecoli contamination.

The operation involving the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), Sussex Police, Hampshire Police, Arun District Council Environmental Health, Portsmouth City Council’s Port Health Unit, London Health Officers and Sussex Sea Fisheries District Committee, saw enforcement officers attend three separate locations in West Sussex, Portsmouth and London.

The investigation focuses on allegations that the clams are being sold in Portsmouth and Billingsgate Market in London.
 
The operation began in the early hours of 5 May, when a team of London health officers sampled clams from a store at Billingsgate Market which were then sent to the laboratory for forensic examination.

Sussex Police then secured the beach at Rustington, West Sussex, before the GLA and others involved in the operation interviewed and seized equipment and clams from clam pickers, with three individuals arrested under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

The GLA, Hampshire Police and Portsmouth City Council’s Port Health Unit also served a search warrant on a fish processing plant in the Portsmouth area where it was thought that the clams were sold to before ending up at Billingsgate Market. One further arrest was made here on suspicion of acting as an unlicensed gangmaster.

All four arrested individuals have now been released on bail pending further enquiries and laboratory results.