A Scottish woman yesterday became the first person in the UK to be prosecuted under new gangmaster laws.
Fiona Jane Clark (34), of Perthshire, admitted to the supply of Labour to Angus and Perthshire farms despite not having a proper license. Forfar Sheriff Court was told she had made around £20,000 from the illegal supply.
Clark admitted that her actions contravened the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act. The legislation, passed in 2004, aims to make provision for the licensing of activities involving the supply or use of labourers in connection with agricultural and fisheries work. Fiscal depute Donna Brown, told the court that between 15 and 20 employees had been involved during the period of November 1 to 30 2006. Four farms in the Perthshire and Angus were named as recipients of the labour supply.
Mrs Brown also revealed that Clark had applied for a gangmaster’s license prior to commiting the offence, but had been refused. Sheriff Kevin Veal has deferred sentencing until May 29 to allow for social enquiry and community service reports and to hear any plea of mitigation from the defendant.
Ian Japp, head of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, was in court to hear the case and expressed dismay that proceedings had had to go so far.
He said, “Let me say first of all I’m disappointed we’ve had to come to a prosecution. We have a policy at the moment where we’re trying to encourage people to be compliant. However, if people are not being compliant, or perhaps if they are refused a licence and carry on working, then we have no other alternative but prosecution.
“That’s what happened in this case.”