A West Yorkshire gangmaster has been convicted for operating without a gangmaster licence at Bradford Magistrates Court.

Major Industrial Recruitment based in Cleckheaton pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined £3,500 with £3,500 in costs awarded for supplying workers to pack fruit in the Yorkshire area without a licence between 5 January and 15 March last year.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, says: “The GLA has now had 10 successful prosecutions with seven coming in the last six months. The GLA enforcement strategy is bearing fruit and we are catching those operating without a licence on a regular basis.

“Our approach of proactive intelligence-led enforcement activity is proving very effective in dealing with those who break the rules and leaving the good labour providers to get on with their business.”