Essex lorry deaths detective asks public to help combat organised immigration
Communities are urged to report anything suspicious
A senior detective who investigated the deaths of 39 migrants in Essex is asking the public to help prevent similar incidents.
The victims from Vietnam, some as young as 15, suffocated in sweltering temperatures before being discovered in Grays on 23 October 2019.
On 22nd January 2021, the people smugglers involved were sentenced to almost 93 years in prison.
Now Essex Police is asking the public to look out for possible signs of organised immigration crime.
Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper said:
"I can remember the scenes very vividly now, the work we did with the families, the communities, we will never forget.
"What happened back in October 2019 clearly shows this is not a victimless crime."
The public are asked to look out for anything suspicious which could include groups of people hanging around a location or lorries arriving in unusual places at strange times.
DCS Hooper says lorry drivers pacing up and down as if they are nervous about waiting in a certain area could also be a sign.
He added:
"People smugglers put lives at risk, day in and day out. Those criminals often try to use hauliers as part of their business model and we want those hauliers to make it as difficult as possible.
"We also want communities to step forward and try and support us."
Anyone who spots anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.