MORE than a dozen East Lothian premises were targeted during a police crackdown on people trafficking this week.

Officers visited 13 business addresses in the county as part of a national investigation into the illegal trade.

Police said no arrests were made as a result of the visits to county premises.

The crackdown was part of a nationwide day of action against people traffickers across Scotland on Tuesday.

It came after figures revealed the number of victims of the crime identified in Scotland last year had risen by 31 per cent on the previous year.

Officers were supported by colleagues from HM Revenue and Customs, immigration enforcement, British Transport Police and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority during the visits to East Lothian businesses.

Among businesses targeted across Scotland were food production companies, agricultural firms, car washes and beauty bars.

Police Scotland said it identified 11 potential victims of trafficking during the national investigation, including six children, all of whom were found working in nail bars.

One person was detained for human trafficking offences and two others arrested for immigration offences by Police Scotland, with an additional 12 arrested by immigration enforcement, during the one-day operation.

In East Lothian, police said there had been no arrests and no one was detained in connection with any offences.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston of Police Scotland said: “Human Trafficking is a sickening trade in vulnerable people. It is happening now, in Scotland, to adults and children. Victims are being trafficked into and around the country, usually for the purposes of labour or sexual exploitation.

“Police Scotland is committed to targeting those who seek to profit from exploiting others. Tuesday’s efforts are the latest stage in the fight to keep people safe from this type of criminal activity.

“We will ensure Scotland is a hostile environment to this kind of exploitation.”

Members of the public are urged to be aware of the illegal trade and watch for tell-tale signs which could include large groups of workers living in a single address where there is a high turnover of people, vans collecting them and bringing them home, workers who look fearful of employers, the police, or those in authority, workers showing signs of physical abuse or malnutrition.

The Scottish Government announced plans for a human trafficking strategy earlier this month which aims to encourage people to watch for signs of the illegal activity in their communities, denounce exploitation and identify the countries where victims are being brought into Scotland from.

A police spokesperson confirmed East Lothian had been among the areas targeted in the day of action on Tuesday.

He said: “Thirteen premises in East Lothian were visited during the operation. No arrests were made and no-one was detained.”