Dawn strikes in benefit scam op; 12 QUIZZED OVER ALLEGED LINKS TO pounds 750,000 BENEFIT SWINDLE.Byline: ADAM Adam, the first man, in the Bible Adam (ăd`əm), [Heb.,=man], in the Bible, the first man. In the Book of Genesis, God creates humankind in his image as a species of male and female, giving them dominion over other life. JUPP ALLEGED members of an organised crime gang behind a lucrative benefits fiddle were today arrested. A series of dawn strikes took place on addresses linked to the pounds 750,000 conspiracy, which has seen foreign nationals shipped into Tyneside to make illegal claims. More than 80 officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA UKBA United Kingdom Border Agency ) and Northumbria Police Northumbria Police is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in England. The service is the sixth largest police constabulary in England or Wales. As of April 2005, the current Chief Constable is Mike Craik. carried out the raids in Felling, Gateshead, and in Newcastle's West End. They arrested 12 people at 20 addresses and the Chronicle was there to capture the moment they were given an early wake-up call. All those held are being quizzed over their links to an overseas crime clan. The suspects have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. They are men and women ranging from their late 20s to their mid 50s. They were interviewed by officers to determine their exact age and nationality. Heading the UK Border Agency Regional Immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. Crime Team, Det Insp Graham Brown said: "The arrest of this group is a result of close collaboration between a number of partner agencies. "My message is clear to those who seek to break the law in the North East. We now have a formidable team specialising in immigration-related criminality. "We will investigate most rigorously those people who seek to abuse the hospitality of the UK and commit crime." During the early-morning swoops, two people were arrested at an address in Felling. Simultaneous strikes took place in Benwell, which led to further arrests. The operation was led by UKBA's North East Immigration Crime Team, which works to combat immigration offences ranging from people smuggling People smuggling is a term which is used to describe transportation of people across international borders to a non-official entry point of a destination country for a variety of reasons. to the trade in bogus documents. The team is made up of UKBA investigators and police officers seconded from forces across the region. They were supported by officers from Northumbria Police. The force's Newcastle area commander Chief Supt Graham Smith said: "Today's activity was carried out at the request of the UK Border Agency as a result of an investigation by the North East Immigration Crime Team. "We are committed to supporting our partner agencies with operational assistance when they ask for it. "The vast majority of people who come to this country to earn a living are hard working and abide by our laws. "This is an example of how the authorities work together to take action against the minority who commit crime." CAPTION(S): LED AWAY: Homes were raided in Gateshead and Newcastle today WAKE-UP CALL: More than 80 officers from the UK Border Agency and Northumbria Police were involved in the operation |
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