The raid was a joint operation between Immigration Enforcement officers and Merseyside Police
The raid was a joint operation between Immigration Enforcement officers and Merseyside Police
Border security officials swooped on a Bootle car wash after receiving information the business was using ‘illegal workers’. The raid was a joint operation between Immigration Enforcement officers and Merseyside Police, resulting in two arrests.
After a subsequent investigation, it was found the two arrested individuals were ‘overstayers’ in the UK, according to the Home Office.
The government department confirmed the Supershine Hand Car Wash & Valeting Centre was visited on Tuesday, March 25 following “intelligence in relation to suspected illegal working”, after it was previously visited on Saturday, January 4.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said: “Organised Immigration Crime is a multi-million pound industry.
It stretches from trafficking routes thousands of miles away through which people are brought to our country, to the high streets across Britain where many of those people end up working illegally.
“As part of our Plan for Change, this government is cracking down on that criminal industry at every level, including stepping up our visits to car washes and other businesses where illegal working is taking place, and increasing our enforcement action both against illegal workers and the people who employ them.”
Police subsequently confirmed two men, aged 41 and 27, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of immigration offences and subsequently bailed pending further enquiries. A representative from Scottish Power also attended and it was found the electricity meter at the premises had been tampered with.
A 2020 report from the Local Government Association and Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner: ‘Tackling labour abuse and modern slavery in the hand car wash sector’ identified a series of exploitative labour practices prevalent in the car wash sector.
The report highlighted how the car wash sector has become common in our high streets and communities, but added that local residents may be unwittingly using victims of labour exploitation or even modern slavery to wash their cars.
Chief Inspector Steve Robinson said: “We know that many extremely vulnerable people come to the UK in the pursuit of a better life, but sadly these people are instead exploited by organised crime groups.
“We will continue to work with our partner organisations, such as the Home Office and Immigration Enforcement, to tackle such an important issue within our communities. Please come forward with any information you have about immigration crime because we rely on the support of our communities to stop these offences taking place in Merseyside.
“The tampering of electricity meters at any property creates a massive risk to anyone living or working nearby. Thankfully we were able to identify another example of this dangerous practice at the location and this now reduces the risk to the community.”
