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Arrests made for trademark infringements and illegal working-related notice have been issued. |
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Update 5 of 5
Strategic partnership working is proving an effective disruptor of organised criminal activity.
In the last of our series on Op Machinize – a National Crime Agency co-ordinated multi-agency operation, enforced by local officers in Lincolnshire, uncovered thousands of illicit tobacco products, a multi-million-pound mobile phone scam, and cash believed to be linked to proceeds of crime – today we describe enforcement in Boston, and how a partnership with the Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue (LRF) and our Immigration colleagues proved vital to this work.
Two men were arrested under the Trademarks Act 1994. A 25-year-old man who was linked to a store on Church Lane and another 34-year-old man with links to a store on Horncastle Road, both in Boston, were interviewed, and bailed - investigations remain on-going in respect of those arrests.
On 15 October, officers visited seven premises across South Holland where Immigration officers identified and interviewed three men suspected of illegal working contraventions. There was insufficient evidence to support the issuing of a Civil Penalty Referral Notice in two cases, but a Civil Penalty is being pursued in respect of one 28-year-old man UK at a shop on New Road, Spalding. After the man was interviewed the business was issued with a Civil Penalty Referral Notice. Further inquiries to establish any liability will now take place and the liable employer could face a substantial fine if it’s found they failed to conduct relevant pre-employment checks.
Of the operation, PC Tamzin Roe said:
"The impact of organised criminal activity can permeate communities. It inflicts economic damage on legitimate businesses, it can also lead to exploitation of individuals, while the proceeds can fund wider criminal activity such as human trafficking, drug supply, tax evasion and other criminal offences, which ultimately affects every law-abiding citizen."
We were also joined by Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue (LFR) colleagues on 22 October, during a day of enforcements across Lincoln and Hykeham.
Cllr Alex McGonigle, executive member for community safety at Lincolnshire County Council, said:
"This is the latest in a long line of successful operations to disrupt the trade of illegal tobacco products across Lincolnshire.
"Not only do the shops selling these items bankroll organised crime and threaten the livelihoods of law-abiding businesses, the products themselves are dangerous.
"On top of this, non-compliance with electrical safety standards was a recurring theme at several of these premises. Our fire protection inspectors were left with no option but to issue a prohibition and enforcement notices at one shop and we insisted electricians visit those sites as a matter of urgency."
LFR have subsequently issued letters of advice and will continue working with the stores to ensure compliance.
#OpMachinize
Previous releases:
Op Machinize: Extensive criminal network disruption across Lincolnshire! Dozens of premises have been targeted in a series of enforcements.
Op Machinize: Four arrests, 11 sacks of illicit tobacco seized in Boston, exposing the extreme measures organised gangs take to fund wider criminal activity.
Op Machinize: How a hidden room, false wall, medicine cabinet and ‘Lazy Susan’ concealed criminality. We look at the sophisticated ends criminals go to hide their lucrative contraband.
Op Machinize: An elaborate mobile phone scam has been dismantled by Skegness teams and partners.
📸 Pictured: Example of dangerous electrical standards.
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