Former police chief to head gangmaster watchdog
A former police chief, Paul Whitehouse, is to head the new Gangmasters Licensing Authority.
Set up under the Gangmasters Act 2004 in the wake of the Morecambe Bay disaster, the new watchdog will regulate gangmasters who supply workers to the agriculture and food sectors.
Under the act, it will be an offence to operate as a gangmaster without a licence or to use an unlicensed gangmaster. Anyone breaching the act will face up to ten years in jail.
Its new chair will be Paul Whitehouse, currently vice-chair of the crime-reduction charity NACRO and former Chief Constable of Sussex.
The chief executive role goes to Michael Wilson, former major general on the Defence Intelligence Staff and current chief executive of the Defence Vetting Agency.
Both will take up their posts on 1 April 2005, when the authority formally starts work.
Announcing the appointments, 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.”
General secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, Jack Dromey, said: “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.”
