A person was arrested in connection with Modern-Day Slavery Offences in Leominster.

[Hereford Voice]

On Friday 13th DECEMBER 2024, Leominster Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with colleagues from Hereford Safer Neighbourhood Team, Immigration and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service conducted a joint operation at a disused warehouse on the Croft Business Park in LEOMINSTER.

Immigration had been conducted enquiries that had raised concerns to suggest that renovation work taking place at the site was not conforming to Health and Safety Regulations, that working conditions were poor, working hours inappropriate, safety for workers poor and potential living conditions poor also. Furthermore, information suggested that those persons undertaking the work may not have full legal status to do so.

Officers from Immigration and police had to force entry onto the site before conducting a thorough search of the large warehouse and associated buildings.

Several workmen were located on the premise along with another person of interest suspected to be associated to them.

Enquiries made at scene by Immigration and Police resulted in 8 persons being arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and 1 person being arrested in connection with Modern-Day Slavery Offences. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue conducted a detailed examination of the site in respects of Health and Safety Regulations and Fire Safety Regulations with their findings being forwarded onto the appropriate support agency to progress.

I want to remind the community how important it is to raise any concerns you may have to the police or joint partner agencies.

Though there are matters above that are being investigated, the key message that comes out of this, is about challenging those that seek to control vulnerable people that want to make a better life for themselves and about upholding the high standards of safety, work and living conditions that most are all accustom too but not all can achieve.

This operation will have offered several people, help, support, and a chance to talk to authority which previously they may not have had or not known how too. At this time, an investigation is ongoing by Police and Immigration into the matters found at the location and I am sure you will understand that the nature of this is complex. I am therefore unable to offer any further update currently.