Eight arrested in fake driver details crackdown

Police, including officers based in Newquay, raided addresses in Newquay, Falmouth and Penzance

Eight men have been arrested in Cornwall in an operation to crackdown on so-called farms that supply fake driver details to police in order for motorists to avoid traffic offence prosecutions.

Devon and Cornwall Police said more than 60 officers raided 12 residential and commercial premises in Falmouth, Penzance and Newquay as part of a crackdown on suspected fake Notices of Impending Prosecution (NIP).

Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, with one also arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences.

A further two were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

Insp Tim Evans, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “As a result of our attendance at some of the addresses, police identified unsafe living conditions and a partnership response was required to safeguard vulnerable people.

“We would urge anyone with information to contact police via our website, or by calling 101, quoting Operation Heatlamp."

The operation was run in partnership with the fire service, Immigration Enforcement and Cornwall Council.

A quantity of suspected illegal tobacco was also seized, officers said.