Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority inspections
Part of: Behind the frontline International and specialist agencies
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) – formerly Gangmasters Licensing Authority – operates a licensing scheme, regulating businesses to protect workers in:
- agriculture
- horticulture
- shellfish-gathering and
- associated processing and packaging industries.
In 2017, the GLAA gained additional responsibilities and certain powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. These powers allow the GLAA to investigate labour market offences, using specially trained officers.
Under the Act, the GLAA officers have some powers similar to the police. For example, when investigating labour market offences they are able to:
- make arrests;
- obtain search warrants;
- enter private property;
- search people and premises; and
- seize items for evidence.
However, the granting of the powers was conditional to the GLAA agreeing to voluntary inspections by HMICFRS. It is expected that these inspections will become mandatory as part of legislation changes, in due course.
An inspection of the use of investigative powers by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
HMICFRS’s first inspection of the GLAA took place between June and October 2018. It focussed solely on the GLAA’s operations in England and Wales (not its role in Scotland and Northern Ireland).