POLITICIANS are calling for action and vigilance from the public to end the exploitation of vulnerable migrants who become easy prey to ruthless criminals in Bradford.

Labour MP Naz Shah said the 'hidden cost' of immigration was the trafficking of people, especially women, who were being exploited by gangs.

She said other migrants were exploited by a 'low wage culture'.

The Bradford West MP said that Bradford families were also being duped by people offering legal advice without having the necessary qualifications.

Ms Shah raised the issues in response to new figures which revealed there were more than 600 arrests for immigration offences in Bradford in only three years.

Among those arrested were Czech, Polish, Slovakian and Hungarian nationals who were held in Bradford on suspicion of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation.

Six of those arrested in Bradford for trafficking offences were women and one was only 16, a girl originally from the Czech Republic.

Trafficking offences were also registered in neighbouring Kirklees and Leeds.

Ms Shah said she was concerned about people being brought to Bradford to be exploited.

"I am concerned about illegal practices, exploitation of vulnerable people especially women, rogue gang masters and I urge all people and authorities to be vigilant and report bad practices and exploitation to the authorities.

"At the same time my office has dealt with cases where people have been denied fair representation through people masquerading as solicitors.

"People have had their immigration cases severely compromised through poor advice, high charges and fees and in some cases fraudulent behaviour.

"I urge all people with immigration issues to go to reputable firms with their cases and seek proper legal representation from registered solicitors.

"We also have to put an end to the low wage culture particularly in the farming, food production, and leisure and hospitality industries.

"At a time when the Living Wage is being introduced we have to make sure that businesses of all types are paying a fair wage for people's work. If people have concerns then I would urge them to contact the police and appropriate authorities."

Bradford South Labour MP Judith Cummins described the arrest figures as "concerning".

She said: "In isolation, these figures are concerning. I’ll be writing to the Home Secretary to understand the full picture and the context of these figures."

The figures, released by police under the Freedom of Information Act show that there were 638 immigration-related arrests across Bradford between 2012 and 2014.

Most of those arrested were held for either entering without permission, overstaying, or using deception in order to get permission to stay.

Thirteen people were arrested in relation to trafficking people for exploitation.

The majority of the 638 arrested were men, predominantly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, but also many other countries including China, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iran, Poland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary and Slovakia.

The figures reveal that the number of arrests has fallen, dropping from 244 in 2013 to 167 in 2014.

But Conservative MP Philip Davies said the figures were probably the "tip of the iceberg", while the Home Office accepted that the figures did not represent the full picture of all enforcement activity across Bradford.

Mr Davies, MP for Shipley, has urged his own Government to place more emphasis on dealing with illegal immigration.

He said: "These figures are very worrying and are probably just the tip of the iceberg as far as illegal immigration is concerned.

"For every one caught and arrested there will be many more who are not detected and, because of the crazy Human Rights Act, I am sure that even those who are apprehended and arrested are not always deported.

"This needs to be a much higher priority for the Government, and as far as I am concerned every illegal immigrant and every foreign national who commits a crime should be kicked out the country straight away."

Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley, said the UK was working to discourage migration.

He said: "Given our economic success over recent years, the UK has become a very attractive place to live.

"We also have proud tradition of providing a place of safety for genuine refugees.

"Each claim for asylum is carefully considered and where it is found that individuals are in need of protection, asylum is given.

"However, if a foreign national does not have a right to be here then it is absolutely appropriate that they are removed and returned to their own country.

"I commend and support the excellent work that the security agencies are doing in this regard. The UK is also increasing communication campaigns to discourage migration by tackling the myths about life here. All of these efforts will continue apace."

Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain said: “The mistreatment and exploitation of vulnerable people is an extremely concerning issue, particularly when bad practices by unscrupulous employers and landlords, who through fear prevent their vulnerable employees and tenants from speaking up when they are paid below the minimum wage and housed in inadequate conditions, put their health, safety and well-being at risk.

“It is clear that we must all work to stop the exploitation and ensure the fair treatment of vulnerable people, and I welcome initiatives to do so, but I have serious concerns that the measures that were contained within the Government’s Immigration Bill will further deter vulnerable migrants from speaking out about their conditions for fear of further repercussions for themselves by their abusers and by the state."

A Home Office spokesman said that, since 2000, it had taken action to make it harder for people to enter the UK illegally and added the information provided by West Yorkshire Police "does not represent a full picture of Immigration Enforcement’s activity in the Bradford area".

The spokesman said: "Our immigration compliance and enforcement teams work across the UK every day to target illegal migrants who have no right to live and work in the community.

"We expect people to leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, we will seek to enforce their departure.

"Since 2010 we have taken a wide range of measures to make it systematically harder for people to enter illegally, work and remain in the UK.

"We have made it much tougher for illegal immigrants to access benefits, healthcare, bank accounts and driving licences, while employers who give jobs to those with no right to be here face penalties of up to £20,000 for each individual found employed."

The Home Office also stressed no-one was removed solely on the basis of their nationality and that every case was carefully considered on its individual merits and in accordance with the law.