British police investigating the deaths of nineteen immigrant workers in Morecambe Bay, off the Lancashire coast, are expecting to make arrests within days.
A total of 19 immigrant workers died as tides rushed in cutting them off from the shore.
Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell believes gangmasters were responsible for organising the harvesting and is concentrating investigations on the Merseyside area.
He said: "These were tragic events where vulnerable people were being used to work in physically hard circumstances for about £1 for a nine-hour shift. It is appalling."
Mr Gradwell added: "We are narrowing down the names of gangmasters who might be responsible."
Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Norman Bettison, is said to have offered full support to the inquiry.
"We expect to make arrests within days rather than months," Mr Gradwell said.
Assistant Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, Julia Hodson said investigators were still working hard to identify the deceased.
Establishing their identity was described as a "mammoth and difficult task".
This morning clothes belonging to the workers were still being washed up on the shores of Morecambe Bay.
PA