Police and immigration officials swooped on hand car washes
Officers seized four illegal e-bikes and one electric scooter from delivery riders and members of the public in Worcester(Image: West Mercia Police)
Four men were detained for immigration offences after a raid was carried out at a car wash.
The men, aged in their 20s and 40, were taken into custody when West Mercia Police swooped at a hand car wash on Hylton Road, Worcester, on Saturday (July 27).
The operation also focused on the illegal use of e-bikes and officers targeted delivery drivers and riders on The Cross and Foregate Street.
Read More: Man arrested after two teenagers ‘sexually assaulted’ in Birmingham city centre
They questioned nearly 20 people and though no immigration offences were discovered, officers seized four illegal e-bikes and an electric scooter from delivery riders and members of the public.
Although e-scooters are available to buy, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas unless part of a legal e-scooter loan scheme, of which there are none in the West Mercia force area.
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join
On Friday (25 July) officers from the city centre team went out targeting shoplifters. No thefts were reported during that operation and no arrests were made but there was plenty of engagement with retailers and the public.
Police Sergeant Brian Simpkins of Worcester SNT said: “Working with our partners in Immigration, the team targeted hand car washes and the use of e-bikes by delivery riders in the city centre on Saturday.
“Four men were detained and are now being dealt with by Immigration, plus four illegal e-bikes and one electric scooter from delivery riders and members of the public were seized.
McDonald’s in Foregate Street, Worcester(Image: Googlemaps)
“We will continue working with partner agencies such as Immigration to clamp down on those here working illegally and plan to conduct further regular operations like this in the future.
“Our shoplifting operation on Friday was successful based on our visibility, offering reassurance, and engagement with retailers and the public.”