Car park migrants are EVICTED after living for EIGHT years in a camp hidden in the heart of London
Camp of migrants sleeping rough is cleared by police in Peckham after being exposed by The Sun
A CAMP of Romanian migrants sleeping rough in dumped motors is cleared yesterday after being exposed by The Sun.
We revealed this month that they had been dossing down next to a retail park in the untaxed cars for at least eight years.
Police swooped in Peckham, South East London, at 5.30am and removed 28 illegal vehicles. One local said: “It’s about time. They’ve turned a blind eye to it for years.”
No arrests were made but cops said 14 migrants had agreed to return to Romania.
Local residents had complained about anti-social behaviour.
The migrants slept in the cars at night and would tout for cash-in-hand labouring work during the day.
A Met Police spokesman said: "The operation came after numerous complaints from businesses and residents who had regularly been suffering with anti-social behaviour and harassment from people asking passers-by and customers for paid work.
"The operation resulted in 28 vehicles being removed for being on a road without insurance and tax and 14 Romanian nationals electing to return to Romania."
Sergeant Jon Sweatman said: "Businesses in the area have been suffering from increased anti-social behaviour in the area over the last few months and a number of local business managers approached us during the operation thanking us for tackling the issue".
One of the migrants we spoke to earlier this month said a day's pay over here would take a week to earn in Romania.
He said: “Living in a car is not a great life, but we don’t have any choice.
“And it’s still better than Romania.”
Most of the cash they earn is funnelled back home and some pick up benefits on the side.
Many of the vehicles towed away had flat tyres and their windows taped over — or painted jet black — to block out the early morning sun.
The battered cars included old Vauxhalls, Citroens and Fords.
They were parked just off the Old Kent Road in Peckham, South East London.
Locals had complained of anti-social behaviour and The Sun saw some of the migrants swigging whisky from miniature bottles at 7.30am shortly after they had woken up.
Official statistics show one in five rough sleepers in London is now Romanian — the highest number from any foreign country.
That is 90 per cent up on last year. Officially some 175,000 Romanians are in the UK, but the Office for National Statistics admits the total is likely to be far higher.
Local councillor Barrie Hargrove said: “This has been a serious issue for our residents and local businesses who have lodged complaints about noise and other forms of anti social behaviour."