The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) took part this week in what is thought to be the largest-ever operation of its kind mounted in the UK to root out a crime ring involved in human trafficking for labour exploitation.

Clearly this was a well-organised, highly targeted and landmark event that will have surely left other illegal operators quaking in their boots, for which Northamptonshire Police, the GLA and all the other organisations involved in the crackdown deserve a massive pat on the back.

However, I wonder just how much the events of this week will have struck a chord with the British public. UK consumers seem pretty switched on these days when it comes to ethical trading. Plenty of them know their Fairtrade label from their Waitrose Foundation marque, and awareness of the importance of treating foreign workers fairly with decent wages and humane working conditions has never been higher.

But we are somewhat less well informed when it comes to cases of worker abuse on home soil. It is well documented how growers and pickers in foreign countries fare on the ethical front and the fantastic efforts being implemented to help them - less common to see reporting on the plight of workers, foreign or otherwise, in the UK, and the valuable work being done to ensure their fair treatment. Hopefully, this week’s events could go some way to opening the public’s eyes to this important issue.

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