South Yorkshire Police have raided suspected illegal gambling dens in Doncaster and Sheffield as part of a crackdown on unlicensed premises. The raids on Wednesday involved dozens of officers from South Yorkshire Police, the Gambling Commission and Trading Standards.
Three people were arrested during the operation. One was held on suspicion of immigration offences, another for possession of a bladed article, and the third for gambling offences. Tens of thousands of pounds in cash were seized at a venue in the London Road area of Sheffield. Gambling machines were also found and seized as part of the investigation.
What police found
Officers discovered considerable sums of cash locked in safes at one of the raided premises. Gambling machines were found to contain money, indicating active use. At another venue, a row of gambling machines and gambling tables with chips on them were discovered.
Hidden in plain sight
Chief Superintendent Jamie Henderson said the illegal gambling dens were "hiding in plain sight in venues such as rooms above retail premises, the back rooms of licensed venues and in nightclubs".
Henderson warned that illegal gambling dens are linked to money laundering, drugs and immigration offences, with "organised crime at their roots".
Exploitation and debt bondage
Henderson highlighted that vulnerable people were being exploited as part of these illegal operations. He explained they often ended up in "debt bondage", where people owe significant amounts of money they are never going to be able to repay without becoming involved in criminality themselves.
"Our job here today and over the next couple of days is to try to tackle that," Henderson said. He added that people caught in debt bondage often ended up having to store firearms or drugs as a way of repaying what they owed.
Broader operation
The raids were part of Operation Duxford, which also focuses on drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour.
Sue Young, Gambling Commission executive director of operations, said: "This action should send a clear message: if you're running an illegal gambling operation, we will work with police and other partners to shut you down and ensure you face serious consequences."
