Man charged and remanded following day of action targeting suspected exploitation

A 52-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences following a joint agency day of action targeting suspected exploitation in West Suffolk.

On Friday, February 13, Suffolk police partnered with Home Office Immigration Enforcement Officers in an operation in Brandon and Mildenhall, targeting cash-intensive businesses that are suspected of involvement in exploitation and modern slavery.

These are businesses that primarily handle high volumes of cash transactions which may be linked to wider organised crime groups.

Businesses can include barber shops, nail bars, car washes, fast food establishments, sweet shops and convenience stores.

The activity involved officers from the constabulary’s Kestrel Team and the Investigation Support and Development Unit, along with the police Modern Slavery Tactical advisor, and saw eight businesses visited following reports of suspicious activity from members of the public.

Three men were arrested for various offences.

A man aged in his 20s was arrested at a business in Mill Street, Mildenhall, on suspicion of possession of criminal property. He has been released on bail, pending further enquiries with Trading Standards.

A second man was arrested at a business premises on Market Place, in Mildenhall, on suspicion of immigration act offences. He will be dealt with by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement team by Immigration officers.

The third arrest took place on the High Street, in Brandon, where a man attempted to evade police and immigration officers by running from a business premises towards a car on their arrival.

As authorities opened the car door to engage with the man, he put the vehicle into reverse with an immigration officer forced to hang on.

A taser was deployed to apprehend the driver. He was arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Ramazan Koksal, of High Street in Brandon, was subsequently charged with the following:

• Dangerous driving;
• Assaulting an immigration officer;
• Two counts of being in possession or control of false identification documents;
• Driving a vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence; and
• Driving a vehicle without third party insurance

Koksal appeared before Ipswich Magistrates Court (pictured above) on Monday, February 16, and was remanded in custody pending his appearance at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday, March 16.

If you suspect exploitation, please report your concerns to the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation helpline on 08000 121 700. It is free, confidential, open 24 hours and available in 200 languages. Alternatively report online via https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report.

Visit www.unseenuk.org for more information about the common signs of exploitation and how to report it.

If someone is in immediate danger call police on 999.

For more information about the different forms of Modern Slavery and how to report it visit https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/ms/modern-slavery/