Care home couple arrested over modern slavery allegation

A 31-year-old man and his wife from North Wales have been arrested on suspicion of committing modern slavery offences after authorities found care workers sleeping in cramped, cold and unsanitary conditions on the floor.

The couple are alleged to have recruited and exploited a number of Indian students who ended up working in six care homes in North Wales.

Searches were made to the property in Abagele on 21 December after it was raided by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), with the North Wales Police (NWP) present seizing evidence to support the investigation.

The GLAA said officers found the care home workers sleeping on mattresses on the floor in cramped, cold and unsanitary conditions, with one of the addresses having a fire hazard.

The GLAA senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said the shortage of care workers in the sector which has been “amplified” by the pandemic has caused real risks as "opportunists and unscrupulous employers" look to employ “vulnerable workers”.

It was staff working within the care homes who raised the alarm about the quality of care that the staff, supplied by the agency, were providing to residents.

They said the workers were turning up tired and smelly. They also said the care workers were always hungry and were even seen eating leftovers from meals given to the care home residents.

The GLAA believe the couple being investigated have recruited the potential victims from regions of India which are familiar to them and have employed people who aren’t qualified to be care workers and have been made to work excessive hours, especially if they are on student visas.

After the raid, the nine students were transported to a nearby reception centre to receive specialist support and the opportunity to enter the government’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) but have now returned to their homes with safeguarding packages in place where food parcels are now being delivered to.

There is also enhanced security being provided at the addresses, which have also been red-flagged to NWP, says the GLAA.

The care homes and families of the residents living in the six care homes have been notified.

Mr Plimmer added: “We would encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and to be aware of the signs of exploitation in this sector.”

If you suspect someone has been exploited for their labour, call the GLAA’s intelligence team on 0800 4320804 or email intelligence@gla.gov.uk.

Alternatively, call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.