THE number of arrests relating to immigration offences is already up on last year, prompting companies in Oxfordshire to tighten security.

According to Thames Valley Police, a total of 205 arrests have been made in relation to immigration offences across the county from the beginning of the year to July, up from 184 recorded during the whole of 2014.

On Garsington Road, Cowley, 13 arrests were made in 2014 and from January to July 31 this year, nine have occurred so far, despite no arrests being made on the road in 2012 or 2013.

On July 8, five suspected illegal immigrants were seen jumping off the back of a lorry on the road, outside manufacturer Unipart, before officers arrested them.

Now Oxford-based Unipart spokesman Frank Nigriello said security staff at the company have received extra briefing to deal with problems on the road.

Mr Nigriello added: “The whole situation of people trying to hide on trucks has escalated significantly in the last year or so.

“What has occurred is all companies have had to be more diligent in dealing with that, and working very closely with the police.

“We have heightened our security on site and put measures in place.

“There have been changes in how some of our lorries are managed.”

Mr Nigriello would not reveal the precise nature of the “new measures” put in place for security reasons.

From the 205 people arrested for immigration offences from January to July this year, three related to people entering the UK lawfully without leave but remaining beyond a certain time.

One arrest followed an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non EU person, and one was in relation to breach of a deportation order, with a remaining 183 due to entering the UK without leave.

But Campaign to Close Campsfield activist Liz Peretz warned that people should reserve judgement on the figures, adding that many of the arrests may not have been justified.

Dr Peretz said: “I would want to know how many, when push came to shove, were found to have a perfect right to claim immigration.

“This is a perfect example of something which could be used in a way to say ‘help, shock horror, there are people coming in’ when it may be you have a whole variety of things.

“I think people should reserve judgement on these figures.”

Andrew Morley, director of Chipping Norton haulage service Mor Cross Transport, said he was not surprised by the figures after one of his lorry drivers was targeted when coming from Calais two years ago.

Mr Morley, whose company stopped overseas deliveries last year, said: “We have had a couple of times where we have drivers coming in from Calais with issues.

“These figures don’t surprise me at all. The people are there at service areas when you get into Calais and next thing you know they’re in the back of the lorry.”