Police swooped on england/england/melksham/”>melksham/”>Melksham this morning after reports of “suspicious activity” near the Leekes store on Beanacre Road. The early call came in around 8.30am, triggering a big operation.
Immigration Enforcement Cracks Down on Illegal Work
Officers found Moremore than 20 people in the area, mainly Romanian men, raising red flags Overover their immigration status and right to work in the UK. The Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team joined the scene at 1pm, descending in unmarked vehicles near Greggs and Subway.
The Crewcrew believed the group had been brought into Towntown to do illegal work. While questioning them, officers zeroed in on a suspect allegedly involved in organising the unlawful labour.
15 Arrested, Van Seized in Ongoing Investigation
After thorough checks, 15 individuals aged 18 to 46 were arrested for immigration offences. Several others were released without charge. One man even agreed to buy a flight home to Romania, with officials arranging his voluntary return.
A Peugeot van was also seized for having no insurance or MOT. The arrested suspects were taken to custody suites in Swindon and Bristol for processing. Police remained on site until all detainees were transferred, finally leaving around 3.30pm.
Investigation Continues
Immigration Enforcement is leading the probe. Wiltshire Police confirmed the arrests followed public reports of suspicious behaviour. The Home Office has been contacted for comment, with an update expected on Monday.
