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Dig for body goes on at 'slavery' raid south Wales farm Dig for body goes on at 'slavery' raid south Wales farm
(35 minutes later)
The search for a body at a farm raided by police as part of an anti-slavery operation could take up to three days, the officer in charge has warned.The search for a body at a farm raided by police as part of an anti-slavery operation could take up to three days, the officer in charge has warned.
Specialist officers with mechanical diggers have begun excavating at the site between Newport and Cardiff.Specialist officers with mechanical diggers have begun excavating at the site between Newport and Cardiff.
Four people, three men and a woman, were held after raids in Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Marshfield.Four people, three men and a woman, were held after raids in Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Marshfield.
Operation Imperial is looking at claims people were kept in poor conditions and forced to work for no pay.Operation Imperial is looking at claims people were kept in poor conditions and forced to work for no pay.
The farm at Marshfield remained sealed off overnight as the search started for a possible body buried at the location.The farm at Marshfield remained sealed off overnight as the search started for a possible body buried at the location.
A team of 100 police officers closed off the farm and two other properties early on Monday. A team of more than 100 police officers closed off the farm and two other properties early on Monday.
The inquiry was sparked by the discovery of another man found living in poor conditions in Marshfield, on the outskirts of Newport, earlier this year.The inquiry was sparked by the discovery of another man found living in poor conditions in Marshfield, on the outskirts of Newport, earlier this year.
An Eastern European man was taken to a "place of safety" after Monday's raids for an assessment of his physical and mental condition. An Eastern European man was taken to a "place of safety" after Monday's raids. His mental and physical health are being assessed by the Red Cross.
The four arrested - a 66-year-old man and a 42-year-old both from the Marshfield area, a 36-year-old man from the Cardiff area, and a 42-year-old woman from Penhow, Monmouthshire - remain in police custody.The four arrested - a 66-year-old man and a 42-year-old both from the Marshfield area, a 36-year-old man from the Cardiff area, and a 42-year-old woman from Penhow, Monmouthshire - remain in police custody.
Poor conditions
Ch Insp Huw Nicholas of Gwent Police said the raids followed six months of investigation.Ch Insp Huw Nicholas of Gwent Police said the raids followed six months of investigation.
"We do have information there may be a body buried at that site and it would be remiss of us at this time not to investigate those fully, hence the scale of our operations there," he said."We do have information there may be a body buried at that site and it would be remiss of us at this time not to investigate those fully, hence the scale of our operations there," he said.
"We will exhaustively inquire into that but at the moment we have no more than the suggestion that there could be a body buried there."We will exhaustively inquire into that but at the moment we have no more than the suggestion that there could be a body buried there.
"We anticipate being there for some three days.""We anticipate being there for some three days."
Poor conditions
A large manure and compost heap is being examined, and officers are being assisted by a forensic archaeologist.
There are other residents on the farm land and anyone entering or leaving is being asked to sign in and out.
Operation Imperial has centred around evidence and intelligence suggesting that people were being kept in poor conditions at the Marshfield site and forced to work for no pay.Operation Imperial has centred around evidence and intelligence suggesting that people were being kept in poor conditions at the Marshfield site and forced to work for no pay.
Earlier this year, 43-year-old Darrell Simester, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was found living in poor conditions having been missing for over a decade. Earlier this year, 43-year-old Darrell Simester, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was found living in poor conditions having been missing for 13 years.
His discovery led to a wider investigation.
Gwent Police is working in conjunction with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), other forces, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, RSPCA and the Red Cross.Gwent Police is working in conjunction with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), other forces, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, RSPCA and the Red Cross.
The force says the potential offences they are investigating are serious, and officers have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
An RSPCA spokeswoman says an inspector has been asked to assess the welfare of a number of horses.An RSPCA spokeswoman says an inspector has been asked to assess the welfare of a number of horses.