Published at 16:38, Wednesday, 05 December 2012

Police carried out a number of raids this morning as part of an inquiry into alleged labour exploitation.

More than 150 staff from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and other agencies executed search warrants at businesses and homes as well as fishing vessels in Silloth, Annan and Peterhead.

Seventeen people - who came to the UK from The Philippines, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to work in the fishing industry - were found during the raids.

Welfare and support arrangements are being made for them, said Chief Superintendent Gary Small.

“Given we are at an early stage of a large scale and complex inquiry, I am not in a position to comment further in relation to the specific nature of the allegations being investigated," he added.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk