Dumfries Gangmaster Prosecuted

Ronald Shennan, 57, appeared at Dumfries Sheriff Court today and was convicted of acting as an unlicensed gangmaster, and fined £450.00.

Mr Shennan provided workers to the forestry industry through his company R Shennan Forestry Contractor, without a licence between 26 September 2009 and 9 December 2009.

Mr Shennan was aware that he required a licence to operate legally. He had held a licence until August 2009, when it was revoked for non-compliance with the licensing standards. The investigation discovered that Mr Shennan had not informed the companies he supplied to that he had lost his licence.

Paul Whitehouse, GLA Chair, said:

“This case illustrates that the GLA will not tolerate the law being flouted by individuals who knew that they required a licence, had held a licence, and had lost it because they failed to comply with UK law. Ignorance is never an excuse, but here, the situation was aggravated by the fact that Mr Shennan understood the law, and deceived those he supplied to.”

Notes to editors

1. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) was set up to curb the exploitation of workers in the agricultural, horticultural, shellfish gathering and associated processing and packing industries.

2. Protecting workers is the key aim alongside protecting legitimate labour providers and protecting the tax payer by uncovering unpaid taxes.

3. The GLA regulate the supply of workers and labour services to any of the regulated sectors in the UK

4. It is a criminal offence to provide labour in the industries regulated by the GLA without a licence. It is also an offence to use labour provided by unlicensed labour providers.

5. Paul Whitehouse Chairman of the GLA is available for interview. 

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