Changing Times in Boston The Impact of Economic Migration

Boston Traditional and historic market town Economy based on agriculture and the food industry – Seasonal work & low wages

Millennium increase in economic migrants; Portuguese (>5,000) Gangmasters – exploitation Social unrest

2005 onwards Portuguese numbers decrease Influx of Eastern Europeans, initially Polish – followed by Lithuanian, Latvian and Russian Population continues to increase – estimates that up to 20,000 Eastern Europeans in the area!

Impacts on the Borough Language & cultural differences Increase in HMOs Illegal encampments Social tensions Strain on public services Public Health Return of bed bugs, cockroaches, cases of T.B.

Food Safety Inspections of 19 Eastern European Retail Stores and Warehouses – Findings; 7 Shops handling and slicing cooked meats 3 of the above shops without proper wash hand basins 7 shops found to have high risk foods with expired ‘use by’ dates 7 shops were not complying with temperature requirements

Food Safety 9 shops had products of dubious origin 6 shops had unmarked eggs 5 had cleaning issues All had a lack of knowledge/training of food safety No food safety management systems Concern regarding transport of high risk products Trading Standards/HMRC Raids 88 litres of counterfeit spirits (isopropyl)

Formal Action Seizure/surrender of > £6,000 of meat products Closure of 1shop Prosecution of the owner of 2 shops

Informal Action Hygiene Rules produced

Food Alert 2010 Listeria Monocytogenes Found in Polish Black Pudding Sausage

2011 Improvements not sustained! What Next? ‘System Thinking’ Eastern European Community Support Worker engagement Social marketing Review Hygiene Rules Firm but fair approach

The Future? Greater Integration Business development and diversification Better understanding and compliance with public health legislation Action by central government to assist areas like Boston affected by economic migration