A former police chief and a retired army major general have been named as chair and chief executive designate of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, the watchdog body which will regulate for the first time gangmasters who supply workers to farms, agricultural and shellfish businesses.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman designate, was formerly chief constable of Sussex, and is vice-chair of NACRO, the crime reduction charity. Michael Wilson, chief executive designate, was a Major General on the Defence Intelligence Staff and is chief executive of the Defence Vetting Agency.

Their formal appointments will be confirmed when Parliament adopts the regulations underpinning the Authority's operation (expected in March).

From April the Authority, set up under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act which came into force in July 2004, will develop and operate a licensing scheme, set licensing conditions and maintain a register of licensed labour providers in the agriculture, shellfish and related processing and packaging industries.

It will be an offence for anyone acting as a gangmaster to operate without a licence. It will also be illegal for anyone to use an unlicensed gangmaster. Offenders face up to ten years in jail.

Food and farming minister Larry Whitty said: "The new law is a major step forward in the fight to end exploitation of workers by unscrupulous gangmasters. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority - led by Paul and Mike - will play a key role in developing licensing conditions that will prevent abuse of workers. Their track records and experience make me confident that the Authority will operate effectively, with zero tolerance for those who abuse workers or flout the law."

Whitehouse added: "The public want to know that the fresh food they buy has been picked and processed by people who are treated properly. I will be working with Mike Wilson to ensure that the Authority operates effectively and efficiently to achieve this end."

Whitehouse is due to meet representatives from the Association of Labour Providers (ALP) this week.

Mark Boleat, chairman of the Association of Labour Providers said: "The ALP has always stressed the importance of enforcement in dealing with the problem of supply and use of illegal labour and is therefore particularly pleased that such a prominent former chief constable is willing to take on the role of chairman. Implementing legislation is much harder than drafting it. The Licensing Authority has secured an excellent leadership team and the ALP looks forward to working with them on the implementation of the licensing regime."

NFU president, Tim Bennett said: “Labour providers are a key part of our industry but there is no place in modern agriculture for illegal employment practises. We have always argued that co-ordinated enforcement is the way to tackle rogue labour providers and the GLA will provide that. We look forward to taking our places on the board of the GLA and making a full contribution to ensure its success."

And Jack Dromey, deputy general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union added his endorsement: "The appointments of Paul Whitehouse and Michael Wilson are the first steps in establishing an effective authority to enforce real regulation of gangmasters. The two men have the experience necessary to bring together government, the enforcement agencies and the industry to wage war on exploitation and to raise labour standards. They have the full support of the T&G in pursuing those goals."

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