Seven people are being held on suspicion of manslaughter following the deaths of 19 mostly Chinese people who drowned picking cockles in Morecambe Bay.
The accident happened after more than 30 cocklers were caught by rising waters in the Hest Bank area on Thursday.
The cockle pickers are said to have been working for organised gangs and police officers have begun interviewing some of the survivors through interpreters.
The incident has already sparked calls for more protection of migrant workers and strict licensing of cockle pickers.
What action can be taken to prevent similar tragedies taking place? Can Morecambe Bay be policed? Should there be a tougher permit system for migrant works?
This debate is now closed.The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we received:
On the subject of illegal migrant labour, the UK should clamp down on it as soon as possible. The public, without knowing, can and will become dependant on the cheap goods that illegals supply. That's food, clothing, housing construction, everything a modern life style demands. If you don't believe me come to the USA where nothing moves or is made without illegal labour being involved.
Keith, Galveston, Texas, USA
Why are people prepared to come here? Why will they accept these conditions? Do we need to address the problems at their source rather than just dealing with symptoms? People who are poor want to improve their lives.
Paul, Cirencester
Having spent time cockling I am fully aware of the dangers involved and would stress to anybody thinking of cockling that the risks are not worth the reward. It is high time that legislation is put in place for cocklers.
J.Pandrich, Morecambe, Lancashire
Foreign criminals invading bringing with them armies of slaves to and plunder the countryside! The truth is that history clearly warns us that this kind of situation can only escalate into something far more terrible.
James, Birmingham
It is time that temporary permits are allowed for the young men and woman can work in the world, or just the UK. It clear that work exists here and young adventures wish to try their hand and earning a relative fortune thousands miles form home. Why make them risk their young lives and thousands of pounds raised by whole extend families in some of the poorest parts of the world.
Everton, UK London
I doubt these cockles were destined for our supermarkets, who need accurate documentation, more likely for black economy Chinese restaurants. China and the Chinese Embassy could help writing safety notices and advice for Chinese living in Britain.
EL, Edinburgh Scotland
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Why does it always take a tragedy like this before these people actually do something?
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Living on the Morecambe Bay coast I have been watching the gangs of cocklers for about 6 months now. It has constantly been in the local news, many people in the area complained to local police and the local MP and they did nothing. Why does it always take a tragedy like this before these people actually do something?
Su, Barrow-in-Furness
What company were these people working for and where were those cockles destined to? We haven't heard the full truth about this! I wouldn't be surprised if the end product ended up in one of our big supermarkets. Surely these must investigate the source of their products and not deal with companies that operate through illegal work?
Mary J, London, England
It doesn't take long for this to become an anti-immigration topic of discussion (as opposed to the Morecambe Bay Tragedy discussion) for people to express their latent and pent up views.
DS, UK
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Did nobody in the area see all these people going on to the sands at, what I presume locals knew was, a dangerous time?
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Is everybody in this country blind? Or just selectively so? Did nobody in the area see all these people going on to the sands at, what I presume locals knew was, a dangerous time? Did nobody in the street where they were living notice an unusual number of people coming and going from one or two addresses? Or is it the "nothing to do with me" syndrome?
PJ, W Yorks, UK
Black Market activates exist because of OUR greed. Pay the proper price for things including the tax due. Then people can pay fair wages and fund the prosecution of these gang masters who use our greed to justify others misery
Trev, Dorset, England
Another example of the amount of hidden crime in our country. How long has this been going on? Our world needs greater controls with the consequent loss of freedom, until we can prove we deserve better.
David, UK
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What I find so frustrating is that everyone is an expert in hindsight!
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What I find so frustrating is that everyone is an expert in hindsight! Any individual with some intellect knows that there is a link between illegal immigrants and organised crime. The more immigrants the bigger the community becomes therefore creating a culture of its own. I'm not a racist however I feel myself and others around me are sick and tired of the mess we have within our own country.
Trevor, Essex
Arrrgh! Everyone here ranting on about immigration control - is missing the point entirely! What we are dealing with are criminal gangs importing cheap labour (mostly illegal immigrants) from overseas. It's about time these gangs were targeted with the same discrimination as drug/prostitute smugglers. And stop incriminating the labourers who, after all, are doing the jobs that we can't be bothered doing.
Steven, Glasgow, Scotland
Simple, make it a crime to employ any illegal alien knowing or otherwise with a mandatory jail sentence of one year for every alien employed. Also make all senior management of these companies liable for fines if their companies are caught employing these people. That way all these companies who make it a policy to employ cheap labour find its not so cheap.
Kevin Parker, Kent
Like most other fishing activities commercial cockling should only be allowed with a local license. To obtain a license to pick cockles each individual picker should have to pass a test. The test should be in two parts. Firstly a general test to show they understand the laws and general safety concerns that govern the activity. Secondly a local area safety test to show that they understand the conditions in the area the license covers. The high rewards available mean the price of the license should be able to cover any enforcement costs.
Nigel, Oxford, UK
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Why do we have to wait for such a tragedy for decisive action to be taken?
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Two points: Firstly, why do we have to wait for such a tragedy for decisive action to be taken - if arrests can be made so quickly, then culprits must be known. Secondly, one of the core issues remains this government's utter failure to take responsibility for prevention of illegal immigrants - fining already-pressed travel and freight operators is just passing the buck (remember the lorry driver fined even when he reported stowaways - what kind of policy is that ?).
Dave, UK
This story has nothing to do with immigration, and everything to do with the strength and enforcement of employment regulations.
Andrew Bartlett, Cardiff, UK
I am a local Health and Safety advisor and realise only too well how easily those 19 lives could have been saved. A pure and simple risk assessment. The risk assessment would have enforced the vetting of people applying for fishing license, and without proof of good local knowledge of the area a permit would have been refused.
Michael Edwards, Bolton-Le-Sands
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We need a National Police Force with links to a National Identity database
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These illegal work gangs are so preventable. The UK has such a small land mass, it is much smaller than nearly all the American States. We need a National Police Force with links to a National Identity database, statutory immigration controls at all ports of entry and departure, tougher citizenship rules, work permits for aliens, a judiciary that acts quickly to uphold and deport convicted criminals with less than 5 years citizenship. We'd see a difference then.
Cath Rodgers, Sussex
We need a National ID card and strict border and immigration controls now, and a programme to find and expel all those who are here already that don't qualify. No ID card would mean no work, no benefits, no healthcare = no reason to come here.
Bob, Kingston, UK
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People will stop using cheap labour if they are likely to be fined for supplying the results of their work
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In the United States they had a similar problem with illegal immigrants from Mexico working in households and low paid activities. Their method of tackling it was simple and effective; they stopped automatically deporting the workers and prosecuted the employer with resulting massive fines. All of our supermarkets/processing plants etc will stop using cheap labour if they are likely to be fined for supplying the results of their work.
John, England
Prevent the deaths of illegal immigrants by preventing illegal entry and through automatic deportation of those found. No asylum, no benefits, no nothing. Legally-resident workers are already protected by law.
SB, Hampshire, UK
How about creating some UK government adverts for Chinese TV that tell the truth about what will happen if you pay the snakeheads to send you or your loved ones to the UK. They need to know that the streets are paved with litter, not gold.
Brian, Scotland
Stop the overgenerous welfare payments for doing nothing. Then unemployed/idle would need to work and those from other countries would be less likely to come in the hope of one day becoming legal and obtaining benefits.
Roger Jackson, Stockport, England
What can be done - er a) Stop illegals entering the country. b) Enforce minimum wage. c) Enforce Health and Safety at Work etc.
In other words get this crazy government to enforce the rules.
Steve Gates, Chatham
The tragedy is that we need something like this to happen to sit up and take notice of the appalling lives of those trapped in the black market.
Wendy, UK
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If the government is too politically correct to detect and deport illegal immigrants then criminal gangs will take advantage
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If the government is too politically correct to detect and deport illegal immigrants then criminal gangs will take advantage. If they want an open door policy then have one, else police our ports of entry properly. At the moment we have something in between which leads to exploitation and the scope for disasters like this one.
Gareth, UK
In spite of the tragedy the inevitable question must arise as to how all these illegal immigrants are getting into our country and why aren't the authorities preventing their entry! How many can our small country cope with and how insulting it is to the indigenous population to have these gang masters etc. doing just what they want to in our country!
R Steward, UK
Desperate people will always be prepared to take desperate risks for the chance of freedom, hope and some money.
Sue, Staines, UK
Whilst vacationing in Wales, my wife and daughter almost drowned when they literally sank to the waste in liquefied sand along with a raging incoming tide. To this day we talk about the event and the Angel who dragged them out. Considering the conditions its ludicrous how local authorities get away with placing tiny 'out of the way' signs (of apparent WW2 origin). It should be made CLEAR TO ALL upon entry to such locations that such a danger exists.
RP, California. USA
We have just had a case in New Zealand where a (non-local) Chinese family was discovered running gangs of illegal migrants as fruit pickers, while other Oriental gangs raid the shellfish beds here too. Local police, often in isolated areas, don't have a hope of coping. More action is needed internationally to identify suspicious people at ports of entry. Countries will have to work together on this.
Dale, New Zealand
Although it is a shame that they died, I assume that the others will - if in the country illegally - be deported? You have to ask why the taxpayer should have to foot the bill for maybe three helicopters, at least two, and police overtime for something which shouldn't have been allowed to happen.
Tony, Edinburgh
What happened is a tragedy for those involved, their friends and families. However, the Govt. must take its share of the blame. Its failure to police illegal immigration effectively, by "monitoring" rather than placing illegal immigrants in secure detention centres and to deport them in a timely fashion, only encourages more to come to this country and to take the risk of working in unregulated and unsafe environments. The "gang-masters" should be prosecuted, but so should all businesses that employ illegal immigrants.
IS, UK
The flexible labour market and vibrant economy previous correspondents mentioned are a direct result of greedy "entrepreneurs" who don't want to pay for anything that reduces their profits. This is exacerbated by the new British disease of wanting "a deal" and the demand for cheap food rather than pay the true price for good quality and a safe production system.
Ann, Stevenage UK
Many people know of the black market economy that exists within the country. People who work with asylum seekers openly acknowledge that the government easily losers track of asylum seekers, if they fail to keep an appointment with the powers that be they are just written off by them, no attempt is made to trace their whereabouts. How else are these people supposed to find a means of surviving. The government has lost any chance it ever had of ascertaining the number of people living in this country illegally and can never hope to stamp out the black market economy. That is quite a frightening thought that the official powers have no idea of the scale of the black market economy.
Isabel Bolstridge, England
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Unless the authorities take a hand and the supermarkets clean up their act, the problem is only going to get worse
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The HofC committee also found that the Official Operation set up to tackle the problem of gang masters and illegal immigrants had been totally ineffective. Added to that are reports that on Merseyside intimidation of witnesses in trials is so widespread that it is becoming hard to get a conviction there, and it is clear why this area was chosen.
And let's not forget, there are many more illegal immigrants working in similar conditions, in food processing plants and of course in the sex industry, all around the UK.
Unless the authorities take a hand and the supermarkets clean up their act, the problem is only going to get worse.
Hazel Paul, London
Many contributors refer to the incompetence of the authorities and their unwillingness to pursue cases even when their attention is drawn to abuses. A few months ago the Farming Today programme on BBC Radio 4 investigated the activities of gangmasters in the horticulture industry. One farmer tried to check whether gangmasters who provided him with labour were properly registered and were passing on tax from the workers. The department concerned was unable to provide him with the information required, citing the Data Protection Act as the reason!
It's not surprising that the UK should have become such a magnet for illegal immigration when word gets round that the authorities are both unable and incapable of enforcing the deluge of regulations which pour out of Whitehall.
David, United Kingdom
The problem of illegal workers prepared to labour for virtually nothing is nationwide. Let's hope the net to catch the gang masters spreads nationally too. My step son lost his job to a group brought in by a gang master - the factory just went for the cheapest labour they could. We are all to blame; the industries who employ these people; the gang master for exploiting them; the government for not having the political will to deal with the issue and consumers for wanting things as cheaply as possible so that corners are cut in the labour market.
Sally, Lincolnshire
I nearly lost my own life in the quick sands of Morecambe Bay. Some 45 years ago when beach fishing as a boy I suddenly realised I couldn't move - I looked down and I was in mud to well above my knees. Luckily another fisherman heard my cries for help and pulled me out. A pair of my Wellingtons, and one of his, are still out there in the sands somewhere. So I know only too well just what an unforgiving place the Bay can be because of its tides, currents and that quicksand.
In addition, it is one of Britain's areas of outstanding natural beauty. To use it as a source of shellfish is a tradition that has gone one for centuries - but to do so on such an 'industrial' scale, with untrained incoming workers, is dangerous and a blot on this lovely land and seascape. I cannot conceive that some system cannot be put in place to prevent it.
Hedley Russell, Morecambe, England
The House of Commons select committee which looked into the problem of gang masters recently found a key driving factor was as the big supermarket chains have driven down prices, "honest" gang masters paying the minimum wage cannot compete with the illegal gang masters and their teams of slaves.
K Chu, Kingston-upon-Hull
It always comes as a surprise to the police that something like this is going on, yet it does, and people know about it but not the police or Government.
These people must live, they eat, and sleep yet we know nothing about them. We hear of biscuit factories, fruit pickers and potato pickers who always use cheap labour or illegal labour yet nothing is done until people die.
It is time the police and Government do something. Either make these people legal so they can work or remove them and the groups who employ them. The law must do its job which it seems unable to do.
Robert. N, Llanelli
My house looks out over the sea and shore area of Hest Bank. I most sincerely hope that this event will have positive repercussions for our society. My main fear is that this tragedy will be forgotten before suitable justice is brought against these 'gangmasters' and legislative actions are carried out to prevent all kinds of similar labour exploitation. This problem MUST not be ignored just because the politicians see it as a problematic issue. My deepest sympathies to those families and communities who have suffered this loss.
Philip Herd, Hest Bank, Morecambe
Very sad for all concerned but why did this happen? It is said that gangmasters work the beaches with teams. Why was it allowed if they were known about?
W Cowell, Brighton/Hove, UK
Britain has one of the most flexible labour markets in the world with workers having considerably less rights than their European counterparts. There needs to be far more regulation and control of the British labour market with powerful state bodies put in place to enforce those regulations and which people can turn to when they are being exploited or when they have a grievance.
David Lockwood, Boxtel, The Netherlands
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This is modern-day slavery, so let's treat it with the seriousness it deserves
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For every person that died, there are thousands who would pay all they have for a chance of reaching Britain, or the US or Australia, or many other places. The perception is that there are easy pickings to be had and the snakeheads are only too keen to promote these perceptions. The Chinese government deny the existence of these people the minute they burn their papers.
Make the penalties for snakeheads much tougher. A couple of years for people trafficking is nothing to them. They make more money doing this than if they were smuggling drugs - with far few risks. Make the mandatory sentence life plus confiscation of all their ill-gotten gains. Let's face it - this is modern-day slavery, so let's treat it with the seriousness it deserves.
Helen, Hong Kong, ex-UK
It might be of service to get a grip on the UK's thriving 'black economy' that helps keep our economy so 'vibrant' as David Blunkett suggested of immigration. This would involve having regulations on things like who's working in our agriculture and how they're treated, and better immigration controls for legitimate workers. It's a fair quid pro quo that if people are lured here to do the poorly-paid jobs Brits apparently think they're better than then it's only fair they don't get killed in the attempt. It's hypocritical and an oversight to wax on about our national superiority and our wonderfully civilised economy when it's based on effective slave-labour, right in our own back yard.
Robert Willoughby, London
It is high time the gangmasters and other criminal elements involved in the illegal entry and employment of these unfortunate people in the United Kingdom were dealt with in a robust manner. For far too long a blind eye has been turned by the powers that be to these activities. Near where I live the same farms have been raided on successive years and illegal workers deported, while the individuals facilitating the employment of these people get off scot-free. Is there one law for the rich and powerful and another for the rest of the population in this country?
C. Taylor, Staines, Middlesex
All last summer there were warnings about illegal immigrants working on the cockle fields of the bay. The police and did nothing. Now these people are dead. Why not investigate the lack of action by the police and immigration services? These two agencies could also have prevented these deaths.
Chris, Ulverston, Cumbria
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Had these people been detected upon entry to the country they may have been alive today
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It is tragic that these people have been exploited and lost their lives as a result.
However, the bigger picture here is the government's complete failure to regulate illegal immigration into the country and the criminals behind some of it.
Had these people been detected upon entry to the country they may have been alive today.
It is time for a massive crackdown on illegal immigration and the introduction of massive penalties for the organised use of black-market labour.
Les, Morpeth, England
Les, Morpeth, England has hit the nail squarely on the head here. These deaths are entirely on the head of the government and its failure to apply existing legislation properly.
The government has thereby created a market for this type of employment. In the main it works in favour of both the illegal immigrant - cash in hand, and the employer - cheap labour, no taxes and no questions or objections raised from the employees.
Edwin Thornber, UK/Romania
My parents live in Ulverston on the NW side of the bay and I have often seen the multi-national cocklers during my visits. Locals have complained many times to the authorities about their activities, the mess they create and the obvious dangers of the sands. Why does it take these terrible deaths for someone to take notice of what people say?
Philip Rushton, Nottingham
I have lived in Barrow all my life and plenty of times have been across the sands at Morecambe Bay. I know how dangerous they can be in even good conditions. I don't think warning signs telling the dangers of quicksand and fast tides would make a difference to people what don't even speak much English. I live near a house where a lot of cocklers stay, there is about 10-15 adults in a small house. It's disgraceful what they have to put up with just to survive as well as risking their lives picking cockles in the bay. Cockling should be left to people with good knowledge of the bay and the dangers of it.
Sam, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Most residents here have known about the Chinese cockle pickers and the inherent dangers, so why haven't permits been issued and the beach policed? Such an awful waste of young lives.
Terry Press, Morecambe, Lancs
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Perhaps now people will understand the exploitation that sometimes occurs of immigrant workers
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I've spent years visiting the bay, but people who don't know the area might be amazed at how large the mudflats are, let alone how dangerous they can be. Getting caught out is so easy and that's without the added problems of darkness and trying to work on just a little bit longer. Perhaps now people will understand the exploitation that sometimes occurs of immigrant workers. Perhaps the media will resist presenting them all as scroungers.
Jesse, Gosport, Hants
I live about a mile from Hest Bank, one of the main bases of the cockling operation on Morecambe Bay. There is much disruption caused here by the cocklers, and on a good day, depending how you look at it, there can be over a hundred cars parked on the tiny shoreline car parks, and the mess that's left behind has to be seen to be appreciated.
Local calls for better policing of the cocklers and the operations have gone totally unheeded, and the same goes for safety warnings, despite the notoriety of the sands.
What we need is proper regulation, with permits being issued for a fee to people who would have to apply weeks or months in advance, so that they can be checked.
Andrew Clarkson, Lancaster, England
I am a Chinese working in UK with a legal working status. I am so sad to hear the news. The gang master hoaxed these poor people to risk their lives for peanuts. I really think they should be heavily punished.
I want to appeal to these Chinese people who try to find jobs in UK: finding job in legal way can guarantee a much better life style and respects.
May god bless us all!
X. S, Surrey
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Even now it is hard to believe that this terrible tragedy has happened
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I currently live in Bolton-le-sands and have lived in the Morecambe area all my life. I listened to the helicopters flying overhead last night whilst watching the news in disbelief as it happened on the T.V. Even now it is hard to believe that this terrible tragedy has happened. What has occurred is down to ignorance and lack of respect. You do not have to live in this area to understand the dangers of the sea. Nor do you have to live in this area to understand the danger of wandering out into the Bay in darkness. A lack of English does not explain the inexplicable. One can only assume that the decision to enter such unfamiliar territory in such circumstances is the responsibility of those who brought those unfortunate people to this area. As a 'local' I feel nothing but sadness and outrage at this senseless loss. Somebody somewhere is culpable.
Ray Plumb, Morecambe, England
As a teenager I walked with a guide across the bay from Grange-over-sands. We were made very aware of the quick sands, and were not allowed to dawdle for fear of being trapped by the tide. I hope the "snakeheads" who smuggled these unfortunate people into the country are found and punished.
John, Vancouver, Canada
Two years ago I stayed on holiday in Arnside, by Morecambe Bay, with the dual purpose of visiting the Lake Distinct and seeing the famous tidal wave. I took a very impressive video of the tidal bore both by day and at night from the guesthouse window, when the sudden roar of the water was enough to make one shudder.
Martine Brangan, Dublin, Ireland
I know a lady who went for a walk in the autumn last year; it was cold on the bay, so she was wrapped up warm with winter type clothes on. She had her young eight-year-old grandson in tow who got stuck in the sand. She managed to get him free but got stuck herself. It was only sheer determination, and luck that she got free. I could not believe the state of her clothes etc when she got home. She really was lucky to be alive. This place should be treated with the utmost respect, natural features are something we should all treat with caution at all times! Do not think warning signs are put there for fun. Nature is very brutal in its ways.
Bill, Darlington, Co Durham
I live on the coast of Morecambe Bay and all locals see tourists and workers die or get trapped on the sands.
There are warnings all round the coast but still people try and cross the sands. Maybe local councils should try and organise more trips with guides, like with the queens guide or place better markers on the sands rather than bushes that are in place at the moment.
Melanie Armer, Walney Island
I spent many childhood holidays in Morecambe during the 50's and 60's, usually based at the Pontin's Holiday camp (Middleton Towers).
I remember vividly the year I was trapped in quicksand, the awful realisation that I was sinking deeper and deeper. The worst aspect of it was that my mother just laughed, thinking I was pretending. Luckily my grandmother realised something really was wrong and a team of local men pulled me out. It left me with a fear of water and a distinct understanding that quicksand is a real danger, even in UK and should not be underestimated.
How appalling that these people were not given the information they needed. I do not feel licensing will prevent this, they need the money, desperate people will do anything to get jobs, most will remain outside the rules and regulations. If there is a large Chinese immigrant population in the area, perhaps a "drop-in" type Social Centre with Chinese speaking support workers would help?
Terri Stirling, Angoulême, France
My company has carried out marine survey work in Morecambe Bay over several years. It is no place for inexperienced people to be on a rising tide. The speed with which the sands can liquefy and become treacherous and the speed of the tidal advance over the shallow sands is very intimidating even to professionals...
Brian Egan, Bangor, North Wales
I grew up in Barrow-in-Furness and was always made aware of the dangers of these sands. Even when I travel back there now, when the train passes over the sands I always peer apprehensively over the sides of the bridges. It's well known cheap labour has been used to gather these cockles - what a squalid way for these people to die after the risks they must have taken to get to the UK. The gang leaders should be rounded up and put away, the government is too obsessed with their overseas adventures to stamp out trafficking in humans.
Andrew, Helsinki, Finland
I have been stuck in the quick sands of the bay as a child and have lost Wellington boots. The tide turns very quickly to cut one off and the sand does not release you. A very frightening experience. Thank goodness for the lifeboats and fire brigade. Particularly dangerous spots are Humphrey's Head and Jenny Brown's Point
Charles Royle, London England
I was born and brought up in Morecambe and know how quickly the tide can come in. People who come from inland areas and tourists just don't realise or understand that 5 minutes can make a difference between life and death. The tide can come around a sand bank and behind it cutting it off from the shore so quickly. The people that hired these people, were not local and didn't have the knowledge of the tides.
Liz, Manchester, UK
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