The one-day action, codenamed Operation Mermaid, is ostensibly an attempt to drive dangerous vehicles off the road. But immigration officials, benefits agency inspectors and customs officers will be waiting at the roadside to question anyone pulled over by police. The opeation's co-ordinator Bob Nockalls of the West Midlands force said that despite appearances, Mermaid is a road safety operation. People are in no way detained for anything other than road traffic matters. Whilst they are in that check then people like the benefits agency will speak to the occupants.
Nobody can make anyone speak to the benefits agency.
Benefits Agency investigators will ask people for their National Insurance numbers and other details. Police say they hope motorists will be processed within half an hour, but will give no assurances. The September action, on a date yet to be disclosed, is the latest and biggest in an ongoing operation by local forces. More than a thousand vehicles were stopped in a smaller, trial operation in June. 113 people who said they were travelling to work were found to be claiming unemployment or sickness benefit.