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Modern slavery fears: Nearly 100 held in nail bar crackdown | Modern slavery fears: Nearly 100 held in nail bar crackdown |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Nearly 100 people working in nail bars have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences as part of a clampdown on illegal working. | Nearly 100 people working in nail bars have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences as part of a clampdown on illegal working. |
Investigators targeted more than 280 nail bars in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff as part of the government's Operation Magnify on "risk" industries. | |
Immigration minister Robert Goodwill vowed to tackle the "barbaric crime" of modern slavery by targeting businesses. | Immigration minister Robert Goodwill vowed to tackle the "barbaric crime" of modern slavery by targeting businesses. |
The government said it would identify and help potential trafficking victims. | The government said it would identify and help potential trafficking victims. |
Most of the 97 people held were Vietnamese nationals, but they also included immigrants from Mongolia, Ghana, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and India. | Most of the 97 people held were Vietnamese nationals, but they also included immigrants from Mongolia, Ghana, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and India. |
Immigration officers visited the nail bars across the UK between 27 November and 3 December. | Immigration officers visited the nail bars across the UK between 27 November and 3 December. |
They sent warnings to 68 businesses that they will pay £20,000 per illegal worker if they cannot prove that they carried out appropriate right-to-work document checks. | They sent warnings to 68 businesses that they will pay £20,000 per illegal worker if they cannot prove that they carried out appropriate right-to-work document checks. |
Operation Magnify has also targeted the construction, care, cleaning, catering, taxi and car wash industries in 2016. | Operation Magnify has also targeted the construction, care, cleaning, catering, taxi and car wash industries in 2016. |
'Destroys lives' | 'Destroys lives' |
Mr Goodwill said the operation sent a "strong message" to employers who abuse immigration laws. | Mr Goodwill said the operation sent a "strong message" to employers who abuse immigration laws. |
"Modern slavery is a barbaric crime which destroys the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society," he said. | "Modern slavery is a barbaric crime which destroys the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society," he said. |
In all, 14 of those arrested were passed to the National Referral Mechanism hub, a service supporting those identified as possible victims of slavery and human trafficking. | In all, 14 of those arrested were passed to the National Referral Mechanism hub, a service supporting those identified as possible victims of slavery and human trafficking. |
Many people working in plain sight in UK nail bars, on construction sites, in brothels, on cannabis farms and in agriculture are in fact suspected to be modern slaves. | Many people working in plain sight in UK nail bars, on construction sites, in brothels, on cannabis farms and in agriculture are in fact suspected to be modern slaves. |
Traffickers typically use the internet to lure their victims to the UK with hollow promises of jobs, education and even love - but offer a life of labour exploitation. | Traffickers typically use the internet to lure their victims to the UK with hollow promises of jobs, education and even love - but offer a life of labour exploitation. |
Prime minister Theresa May pledged in July to end the "great human rights issue of our time" of modern slavery. | Prime minister Theresa May pledged in July to end the "great human rights issue of our time" of modern slavery. |
Mrs May said a review to mark the first anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act, which she drew up as home secretary, found there had been 289 modern slavery offences prosecuted in 2015 - and a 40% rise in the number of victims identified. | Mrs May said a review to mark the first anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act, which she drew up as home secretary, found there had been 289 modern slavery offences prosecuted in 2015 - and a 40% rise in the number of victims identified. |
The legislation, introduced in 2015, states it is an offence if someone holds another person in slavery or servitude or requires them to perform forced or compulsory labour. | The legislation, introduced in 2015, states it is an offence if someone holds another person in slavery or servitude or requires them to perform forced or compulsory labour. |
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