Three suspected illegal immigrants were arrested in Broadgreen as part of a day of action aimed at encouraging responsible ownership of businesses in Swindon.

And tobacco and alcohol were seized by police and other agencies, who hailed the crackdown as a success.

Operation Salida was launched by the Swindon Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and is backed by partner agencies including Swindon Borough Council Trading Standards, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs and the Home Office Enforcement Team.

Joint visits were carried out on a number of businesses and licensed premises in the Broadgreen area to ensure organisations were compliant with licensing, trading standards and immigration legislation.

As a result:

• Three people were arrested for illegal entry into the United Kingdom

• Alcohol licensing offences were identified at 12 premises

• Alcohol was seized from two premises due to unpaid duty tax

• Foreign tobacco was seized from three premises

• Children's toys seized from one store due to them containing carcinogenic material - a substance potentially harmful to humans.

PC Luke Atkinson, Community Beat Manager for the Broadgreen area, said: “This was a great opportunity for all agencies to support each other whilst visting premises across the Broadgreen area.

"We hope it sends a clear message that agencies and the community expect businesses to conduct themselves in a responsible manner.

"We are aiming to ensure these joint operations become commonplace across the town centre in the future."

Anyone with information or concerns about matters raised by this operation can contact the Swindon Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 where information can be left anonymously.