Two arrested on suspicion of keeping slaves at Liverpool carwash
Three potential victims were freed by the police
Two men have been arrested at a Liverpool car wash in conntection with modern slavery.
A 31-year-old Iranian national and 24-year-old Iraqi national were arrested at the car wash on suspicion of committing forced or compulsory labour offences under Section 1 of the Modern Slavery Act.
Three potential victims of modern slavery and labour exploitation were also escued during a raid by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).
GLAA officers were joined by Merseyside Police and HM Revenue and Customs’ National Minimum Wage team for the operation on Wednesday, June 30 in Wavertree.
The potential victims, the youngest of whom is in his late teens, with the other two in their 20s, were safeguarded and taken to a reception centre set up for the operation where they received specialist support
Both suspects, who were also arrested for suspected immigration offences, were interviewed by the GLAA before being released under investigation later that day.
GLAA officers also conducted searches of the car wash and addresses of the two suspects.
Information received via the Modern Slavery Helpline earlier in the year combined with the GLAA’s own intelligence-gathering indicated that workers at the site were not being paid the National Minimum Wage.
It's also thought they had identification such as birth certificates taken off them and were constantly monitored on-site, suggesting a level of coercion and control.