Modern Slavery Crackdown Prompts 97 Arrests In Nail Bar Raids

Most of them were Vietnamese.

Scores of people were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences in a crackdown on alleged illegal working in nail bars.

A total of 97 people were held during the week-long operation launched at the end of last month, the Press Association reported.

It also saw dozens of businesses warned they could face fines and 14 people identified as potentially being at risk of modern slavery.

The activity was part of Operation Magnify, a cross-government drive to clamp down on illegal working by targeting specific “risk” industries.

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Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said: “This operation sends a strong message to those employers who ruthlessly seek to exploit vulnerable people and wilfully abuse our immigration laws.

“Modern slavery is a barbaric crime which destroys the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“This Government has taken world-leading action to tackle it by introducing the Modern Slavery Act, giving law enforcement agencies the tools they need and increasing support and protection for victims.

“At the same time, we have also introduced strong measures through the Immigration Act to tackle illegal working, including making it easier to prosecute employers who repeatedly break the rules and creating the power to temporarily close businesses that do not comply with the law.”

The operation, led by Immigration Enforcement, took place from November 27 to December 3 and saw officers visit more than 280 businesses across the UK.

The majority of the 97 people arrested were Vietnamese nationals, but the number also included suspected immigration offenders from Mongolia, Ghana, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and India.

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Robert Goodwill described Robert Goodwill as a 'barbaric crime'
Sang Tan/AP

Those who are potential victims of trafficking will be offered support, while those who have no right to be in the UK will be removed, the Home Office said.

Officers also issued notices to 68 businesses warning them they may be liable for financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found if they cannot provide evidence that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out.

Fourteen people were referred to the National Referral Mechanism hub, which supports those identified as possible victims of slavery and human trafficking.

Operation Magnify is an initiative aiming to tackle exploitative employers who provide low-paid jobs to illegal migrants.

It focused on the construction, care, cleaning, catering, taxi and car wash industries during 2016, with further activity in similar sectors planned for 2017.