Exploiting workers has 'all the making of a tragedy'
“Illegal cockle fishing in our area has been a major problem recently and it is right that the Police and other agencies clamp down on the exploitation of foreign workers by criminal gangs in our area.
"This is a major multi-agency operation involving 150 personnel and sends a clear signal to criminal gangs that their actions will no longer be tolerated.”
– MSP Elaine Murray, Dumfriesshire, Labour
"“The people the gangs use to illegally fish are risking their lives out on the Solway Coast.
"These are dangerous waters at any time, but especially since they usually operate at night.
"This has all the makings of a tragedy waiting to happen and we need to prevent them being exploited.”
Two local politicians have welcomed an operation on the alleged exploitation of foreign workers employed in the fishing industry.
The exercise was carried out across the region this morning by police and various other UK agencies.
Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown and Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray, both Labour, say that iIllegal cockle fishing in the region has been a major problem with gangs often using foreign workers to obtain the cockles.
