North Ayrshire Council is ramping up its efforts to tackle the slave trade – by enlisting the support of legitimate local businesses.
The Trading Standards team reckon many bogus doorstep workers are illegal immigrants working for gang bosses who are raking in all the money.
In one recent incident they discovered workers living in horrendous conditions in dilapidated caravans.
The Trading Standards team have made up business cards which they are distributing through builders’ merchants and other places – including burger vans and hot roll shops– that workmen frequent.
And they want as many honest builders to get in touch when they come across fraudulent workers who are operating in their area.
Scott McKenzie, Senior Manager Protective Services, North Ayrshire Council said: “Bogus workers are out to cheat residents of their hard-earned money. It is a horrible and despicable crime and the team here are passionate about eliminating it as much as possible.
“There is also the larger scale operation. Some of the workers involved in this criminal activity are themselves “slaves”. Mostly Illegal immigrants forced to live in terrible conditions and to work for no money.
“The ‘boss’ can be earning up to £20,000 a day and will be a millionaire. There is only person benefitting from this misery and we want this to stop.
“Bogus workers are criminals who steal from the local community and economy, and Trading Standards will use a range of tactics to get on the front foot to deter and detect these criminals from operating in North Ayrshire.”
BrianDougan, Manager of B&Q in Stevenston, who are participating by handing the business cards to local builders at their Trade Point, added: “We are delighted to support this campaign and are determined to help reduce the number of bogus workers operating across North Ayrshire.”
Earlier this year, the council started installing high-tech cameras in the houses of vulnerable residents who had been targeted by bogus callers.
