‘Police obtain court order to safeguard against human trafficking at Fenland car wash’, 11 Jan 2019

Police visited the car wash on September 12 2018, together with members of the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and immigration officials. Information given to officers suggested that car wash staff were being mistreated by the management and had been working long hours for minimum wage. Officers observed that none of the staff had a contract of employment or paid national insurance or tax. They were all paid in cash, and no staff members were wearing any form of protective clothing. Checks at the car wash revealed that staff may have also been living on site with no mains electricity.

Numerous staff members at the site declined to make statements or support a court prosecution, but instead were happy to answer questions informally. […]

In a bid to prevent future occurrence of the bad practices witnessed by officers at the car wash, police successfully obtained an Interim Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order from court. A police spokesman said: “We are unable to name the car wash because no criminal action has been taken against them yet and naming them could harm their business.”

The civil order, now in place until April 19 this year, was brought in under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. It allows the courts to place a range of restrictions on the behaviour and activities of a person who poses a risk of committing slavery or trafficking offences. […]

DI Dave Murphy said: “This is the first time the force has secured an Interim Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order from the courts, and doing so is another positive step towards tackling human trafficking and modern day slavery. [...]