Nine care home workers rescued in North Wales modern slavery operation
Nine care home workers have been safeguarded as part of a modern slavery operation in north east Wales.
Investigators from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) rescued the workers from an address in Llangollen on Wednesday and Thursday (March 22 and 23).
The nine workers, four male and five female, are aged between 24 and 38, and are primarily from the state of Kerala in southern India.
They have been taken to a nearby reception centre and have entered the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a government framework ensuring potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking receive the support they need.
The GLAA has said investigations are ongoing and “the operation has been supported by North Wales Police, Justice and Care and the Salvation Army. No arrests have been made at this stage.”
GLAA Senior Investigating Officer Martin Plimmer said: “Protecting vulnerable workers is our top priority and we will act swiftly where we have information indicating people are being exploited for their labour.
“The care sector has been identified by the GLAA as being at high risk of forced or compulsory labour and this is one of a number of live investigations we have across England and Wales in this area.”
“As an intelligence-led organisation, we rely on the public to be our eyes and ears and to report their concerns to us.”
“Please do not hesitate to get in touch as your information could be the missing piece in the jigsaw which allows us to conduct operations like the one this week.”
“Our investigations continue and we will provide further updates in due course where appropriate.”
Anyone with information relating to care workers being exploited for their labour should contact the GLAA by emailing intelligence@gla.gov.uk or by using the online reporting form.
Alternatively, call the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline on 08000 121 700 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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