Crystal Umbrella

Several police forces across the UK have come under fire over the past week. Reports released under the Freedom of Information Act show many constabularies to be late invoice payers.

The government have repeatedly issued directives which detail best practice in settling invoices. They state that all payment should be made promptly. However, many businesses who are direct suppliers to police forces across the UK have been kept waiting more than two months for their invoices to be settled.

Of course, this is not to say that all police forces keep their suppliers waiting. On the contrary, many police forces are actually very prompt payers, settling invoices within a matter of days. Information gained from the Forum of Private Businesses actually suggests that some of the UK’s police forces settle more than three quarters of their invoices within 10 days with the remainder paid within 30 days. However, if you look at the flip side of the coin there are also forces that settle just 1% of their invoices within ten days of receipt, with over half still outstanding within a thirty day time-scale.

Alongside this staggering data is another research survey, which has found that SMEs usually accept late payment rather than placing demands on their customers. There is a fear amongst 17% of those surveyed that legal action would be too expensive, while 10% do not want to miss out on the possibility of repeat business. Of course, the knock on effect of non-payment for SMEs is huge. The worst-case scenario is that a small business could effectively be forced to close as a result of the disruption to its cash flow.

Yesterday, a multi-disciplinary search for illegal immigrant herb pickers took place throughout several locations in the Thetford, Norfolk area. The agencies involved were the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the eastern Region Intelligence Unit, Immigration Crime Team, Norfolk Constabulary, Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), UK Human Trafficking Centre, Migrant Workers helpline staff and the Inland Revenue.

Warrants were issued for five teams to carry out searches at various properties. These searched uncovered 34 illegal workers, 3 of whom were immediately detained on immigration charges at the port of Harwich. The others included five Hungarians, three Polish and 23 Indian nationals.

The suspected ringleader of this operation, a 49 year old man, was also arrested and is being held in custody on suspicion of bringing illegal immigrants into the country. Large quantities of cash were uncovered and police will be investigating possible money laundering offences.

A spokesman for the UKBA said: “Officers from the UK Border Agency, with support from the police and HMRC, have carried out an operation into immigration related crime in the Thetford area. As this investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to make any

further comment.”

A spokesman for the GLA said: “Six enforcement officers from the GLA worked with partner agencies today in the Thetford area to investigate suspected unlicensed gangmaster activity and other allegations.”

Senior investigating officer, DCI Mark Lay of the Eastern Region Intelligence Unit, said: “This was a joint franchise operation using the skills and expertise of partnership agency staff. The operation displays how criminal gangs can be dismantled using

the powers and offences of all the agencies.”

Detective sergeant Stuart Bailey from Norfolk Constabulary said: “These are very serious offences and we have worked with our partners to carry out the warrants and make an arrest. Despite the scale of the operation and the resources involved, the impact on the community was minimal with no disruption to those neighbours living in the areas affected.”