Organised gangs are putting public health at risk by harvesting shellfish from contaminated beaches. in Sussex Investigators fear a boom in the highly lucrative trade in Sussex threatens an outbreak of serious food poisoning.

It is illegal under EU law to harvest from banned beaches because the shellfish could be contaminated with deadly E-coli bacteria, Norovirus or salmonella.

In March three men were convicted of offences under food hygiene rules after they were found collecting cockles from a prohibited beach in Littlehampton.

Afterwards the men were spotted delivering the cockles on four occasions to a seafood merchant on the south coast.

The arrests followed an investigation by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and a series of raids in Sussex, Hampshire and London.

In court the defendants’ legal representative said that the men were of previous good character and that the clams were destined for use as bait.

But father and son Iain Janes, 52, from Portchester, and Matthew Janes, 32, from Fareham, were found guilty of four offences under food hygiene laws. Daniel Sousa, 34, from Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to a similar offence at an earlier hearing.

Iain and Matthew Janes have since launched an appeal against their convictions.

Clam diggers

Residents in Rustington have complained that gangs of clam diggers have been targeting the area.

They said the pickers frequently turned up at low tide, dressed in fishing clothing and carrying spades and buckets.

Robert Clark, from Sussex Sea Fisheries, said although it was not illegal for people to collect shellfish for their own consumption, others were doing it to supply restaurants and wholesalers.

He said: “The clandestine nature of these activities means that it’s very difficult to monitor the scale of what’s going on.

“We do suspect there is a level of organisation there and that is clearly a worry.

“All we can do is work closely with local authorities to make sure the rules are not breached.”

Linden Jack, head of food hygiene policy at the Food Standards Agency, said: “Shellfish bought from illegal sources will not have been subjected to the checks which ensure it is fit for human consumption.

“Consumers will therefore have no guarantee that illegally-harvested shellfish is free from such contamination and are risking their health if they eat it.”