Illegals poser after van jump

TWO men could hardly believe their eyes when they saw two men jumping off the back of a van – and today suspect the pair could have been illegal immigrants.

Suffolk police said they did not find the men, but that people sometimes suspected of being illegal immigrants by members of the public are in the country legally.

Michael, 44, who lives in Ipswich but did not want to give his full name, said he witnessed the incident as he was travelling along Foxhall Road with his business partner.

He said: "I saw a Transit van slow down and two men jumped out. They scurried along the path looking at the ground. We called the police twice.

"My business partner spoke to them, but they didn't speak English.

"We watched them all the way down to Foxhall Stadium. We watched them for half an hour, but the police didn't come."

Suffolk police said they received two calls about the incident from – at 2.15pm and 2.23pm on Thursday . Officers arrived at the scene at 2.35pm, but did not find the men.

Anna Woolnough, police spokeswoman, said: "It was not grade one, which is the response we give when life is in danger, but they still responded quite quickly. They searched for the men but there was no sign.

"It is very important that people inform is if they see suspicious behaviour."

Lisa Brown, operations room supervisor, added: "We do get calls from members of the public who are concerned that people may be illegal immigrants. Sometimes we go and are unable to find the people.

"Other times we check and it is all above board.

"But anybody here illegally will be detained under the Immigration Act and we would contact the Immigration Service."

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