Four people rescued from back of a lorry on M11 near Trumpington

Four people were rescued from the back of a lorry near Cambridge and are now in the care of immigration services.

The driver of the lorry, which is believed to have come from Dover, was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK, but will face no further action following an interview, police confirmed.

The lorry was stopped just before junction 11 of the M11 near Trumpington. The individuals inside were not injured.

It follows two similar incidents in February, when 21 people were rescued from lorries in Cambridgeshire. Some of them told police in a phone call that they were struggling to breathe.

Cambridgeshire police said the issue highlights that slavery and trafficking still exist.

The warning signs they encouraged members of the public to look out for, particularly at service stations or lay-bys, include:

People emerging from a lorry or HGV, especially suddenly or as if in a rush not to be seen

Hearing banging from the inside of a lorry – always call us on 999, especially if the lorry is refrigerated

A group of people heading towards, or going inside of, the back of a lorry

If anything about the vehicle doesn’t seem quite right – for example if produce is being thrown from it or something is being done to catch the attention of other motorists

Anyone who sees any of the above is urged to call police on 999 immediately and take a note of the vehicle registration number, even if it has foreign plates.

For more information on human trafficking or modern slavery, including how to report concerns and more warning signs to look out for, visit the force’s dedicated web page: https://bit.ly/3lLbMhm

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