Lorry driver charged after Ipswich immigration arrests

Police first attended a scene at Ransomes Industrial Estate in the south-east of the town at about 10.40am on Thursday.

An eyewitness reported seeing a huge emergency services presence at the retail park, with police cordoning off part of the site for much of the day.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers found 13 people inside the back of a lorry.

Nine people have since been arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.

According to Suffolk police, four people are believed to be under the age of 18 and have been taken into Police Protective Custody.

The HGV driver, Enrico Ferraris, from Italy, was arrested in connection with the incident and taken to Martlesham police investigation centre for questioning.

He was subsequently charged with arranging or facilitating illegal entry into the UK and remanded in custody to appear before Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

The 54-year-old's next hearing will be at Ipswich Crown Court on June 26.

Suffolk police is continuing to liaise with Home Office Immigration Enforcement after the incident.

Police at the Ipswich retail park on Thursday (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A Home Office spokesman said: "The government is tackling illegal migration and the harm it causes by removing those with no right to be in the UK. 

"We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal migration in all its forms."

The news of the initial arrests on Thursday shocked many in the town.

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt (Image: Newsquest)

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt has described the incident as "extremely dangerous" for those involved.

Speaking last Thursday, Mr Hunt added: "I was very concerned when this was brought to my attention earlier today.

"There are still a number of facts that need to be established but clearly this is an unacceptable and illegal state of affairs."