44 people have been arrested and 35 potential victims have been identified in the UK as part of a Europe-wide operation targeting modern slavery and human trafficking.The week of action, which took place between 17 and 23 June, was co-ordinated in the UK by the National Crime Agency, and involved 18 different police forces as well as Border Force and Immigration Enforcement.UK partners carried out 203 visits across business and residential premises, carrying out welfare and safeguarding checks and raising awareness.A multi-agency team also carried out checks at Stansted Airport, monitoring incoming flights from high risk countries and speaking to groups travelling with minors.Over the course of the week 19 suspects were arrested in the UK for offences relating to sexual exploitation, including keeping a brothel and controlling prostitution for gain, and a further four for human trafficking.Another 21 arrests were made for other offences including possessing indecent images and immigration offences.Of the 35 potential victims identified and safeguarded 18 were minors, and were most often subject to labour and criminal exploitation, as well as sexual exploitation and domestic servitude.Information gathered during the operation has led to the launch of 20 new police investigations.Overall, Europol co-ordinated activity in 16 EU states, as well as Iceland and Switzerland, saw more than 200 potential victims identified and safeguarded.127,000 individuals, 63,800 vehicles and 1,100 locations were checked, including private properties, commercial establishments, hotels, buses and train stations, ferry ports, airports and border crossings.Head of the NCA’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit, Adam Thompson, said:
“This co-ordinated week of activity aimed to disrupt and build intelligence on the criminal networks involved in modern slavery and human trafficking.“In the UK this led to dozens of potential victims being safeguarded. These are people who are often vulnerable and may not recognise themselves as victims until it is too late.“Working with our partners across law enforcement here and abroad we are determined to do all we can to fight modern slavery and tackle the criminal groups involved. But we can’t do that on our own, and information from the public is vital to us.“If you are concerned someone may be being exploited you can report anonymously via the National Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700, or through police on 101. If you think someone is in immediate danger, call 999 straight away.”

Whoops! London Street, Southport.

So much for worrying about losing workers rights after we leave the EU.

Originally Posted by thediscovolante

all drug dealing operations....but what about the thousands of farm slaves that operate in banks and tarleton...all run by gangmasters...they wont touch them because the wealthy farmers and veg companies have lucrative connections with the police

Tell us more, what are these "lucrative connections" and "drug dealing operations" ?

Originally Posted by bigdavesdad

So much for worrying about losing workers rights after we leave the EU.

Should we ever leave the EU, better immigration control should expose more workers abuse.

The EU's lax regulations allow the exploitation of so many.

Originally Posted by local

Tell us more, what are these "lucrative connections" and "drug dealing operations" ?

Well perhaps each have generous benefactors - you never know!
There are fifteen Turkish barbers having a staff of two to five, and five English barbers with two to three staff in Southport and Churchtown. In Turkey it takes six to eight years apprentice ship to become a qualified barber. There is also compulsory conscription for males in Turkey - meaning that each barber would have to be around 27 years old at least. If the numbers are repeated Nationwide - does that mean that Turkish males all take up hair dressing after having been in the army?

There are five nail salons in Southport, each with four to five staff? How many people need to have false nails?

Each of those outlets need to cover a minimum of £2000 for rent every year, plus council taxes, overheads and wages. For a staff of five qualified barbers, the costs minimum would be around £130,000 per annum. If each barber is working a station within a barbers, it would cost each barber, a minimum of £6/8 thousand a year. In Southport??