Icy reception for Lancashire Gangmaster

A 52 year old man appeared at Fleetwood Magistrates Court on 7th December to face two charges of acting as a gangmaster without a licence. Harsh Shulka a director of R&G Services Ltd pleaded guilty, and was fined £1000 on each charge, and ordered to pay costs of £3850, and a victim surcharge of £15.00.

The offences, which occurred in 2007 and 2008, came to light following an investigation into another company, Hi Flyers Recruitment Consultants Ltd, also operated by Mr Shukla. Paul Whitehouse, the Chair of the GLA said:

“The GLA was established to prevent exploitation of workers, create a level playing field for legitimate businesses and ensure all pay their fair share of taxes. Gangmasters operating in the sectors we cover must be licensed or they, and those who use them, face prosecution.

I am pleased with the outcome of this investigation and we will continue to root out rogue gangmasters for the good of the UK economy."

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. In December 2009 a new offence of forced labour was introduced in England and Wales

6. Victim surcharges were introduced in April 2007 through the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. The surcharge is levied in any case where a financial penalty is imposed for a criminal conviction. It is paid into a fund aimed at helping improve services for victims of crime.

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

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