Thirteen arrested after modern slavery raids
Thirteen people have been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery following a series of early morning raids by West Midlands Police.
Officers swooped on homes in Birmingham as part of an investigation into the exploitation of eastern European workers, while a minibus carrying suspected slavery victims was stopped in Aldridge, Walsall.
The force acted on intelligence that people were being brought into the UK then offered out to work, we well as receiving low pay as ‘gangmasters’ receive a cut of their wage.
The warrants were executed at addresses in Farnham Road, Headingly Road, Heath Road South and Westbourne Road in Handsworth, Birmingham.
A total of three men and two women from Poland have been safeguarded and taken to a reception centre where they will be given an opportunity to speak to specially trained officers about their circumstances.
