Four detained for immigration offences in Worcester operation

Four men were detained for immigration offences during a joint operation in Worcester on Saturday (26 July).

Officers from Worcester city centre team worked with Immigration officers targeting hand car washes and the use of e-bikes by delivery riders.

At a hand car wash on Hylton Road, four men, aged between their 20s and 40s, were detained by Immigration for immigration offences and taken into police custody.

The operation also focused on The Cross and Foregate Street, targeting deliver drivers and riders and the illegal use of e-bikes.

Nineteen people were encountered at this location, and though no immigration offences were discovered, officers seized four illegal e-bikes and one electric scooter from delivery riders and members of the public.

Although e-scooters are available to buy, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas unless part of a legal e-scooter loan scheme, of which there are none in the West Mercia force area. 

On Friday (25 July) officers from the city centre team went out targeting shoplifters. No thefts were reported during that operation and no arrests were made but there was plenty of engagement with retailers and the public.

Police Sergeant Brian Simpkins of Worcester SNT said: “Working with our partners in Immigration the team targeted hand car washes and the use of e-bikes by delivery riders in the city centre on Saturday.

“Four men were detained and are now being dealt with by Immigration, plus four illegal e-bikes and one electric scooter from delivery riders and members of the public were seized.

“We will continue working with partner agencies such as Immigration to clamp down on those here working illegally and plan to conduct further regular operations like this in the future.

“Our shoplifting operation on Friday was successful based on our visibility, offering reassurance, and engagement with retailers and the public.”