A council and police force have been recognised for their work on Operation Pheasant, a multi-agency operation to target migrant exploitation and rogue landlords in Fenland.

Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire Police walked away with two prestigious MJ Awards, which showcase best practice across local government, at a ceremony in London on Thursday.

Fenland beat off competition from all over the country to win awards for Delivering Better Outcomes, and Trading Standards and Environmental Health.

Operation Pheasant has also enjoyed backing from MP Stephen Barclay, who was instrumental in securing funding for it.

John Clark, FDC Leader, said: “This is a fantastic result for all the partners involved in Operation Pheasant. It’s a richly deserved reward for an excellent project that has enjoyed significant success with the outcomes making a real difference to people’s lives.

“We hope that this achievement will enable us to continue to make the case for further support for this work to continue.”

Councillor David Oliver, portfolio holder for Community Safety, said: “It’s an outstanding achievement and a great reward for the efforts put in by all our officers and partners.

“It is clear the partnership approach has been incredibly successful and collectively we have helped address issues faced by some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“I’m really pleased that our partners from Cambridgeshire Police, represented by Chief Inspector Robin Sissons, were able to celebrate the success with us.”