97 arrested in raids on nail bars as cops rescue 14 ‘trafficking victims’ in ‘modern day slavery’ crackdown

NEARLY 100 people working in nail bars have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences in a crackdown on alleged illegal working.

Cops arrested 97 people during a week-long crackdown at the end of last month.

Investigators targeted more than 280 nail bars in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff as part of “Operation Magnify”, a cross-government drive to clamp down on illegal working by targeting “risk” industries.

Dozens of businesses were also warned they could face fines, and 14 people were identified as potentially being at risk of modern slavery.

Speaking on Operation Magnify, 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 majority of people arrested under Operation Magnify were Vietnamese, though the number also included suspected immigration offenders from Mongolia, Ghana, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and India.

Moving forward, the Home Office will offer support to the potential victims of trafficking identified in the raids, while those who don't have the right to be in the UK will be removed.

Officials have referred 14 people to the National Referral Mechanism Hub, which supports victims of slavery and human trafficking.

Meanwhile, officials have also issued notices to 68 businesses, warning them they may now be liable for financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found if they are unable to provide evidence appropriate right to work document checks were conducted.

Operation Magnify is aimed at tackling exploitative employers who give illegal immigrants low-paid jobs.

It focused on the construction, care, cleaning, catering, taxi and car wash industries in 2016, and will investigate similar sectors next year.

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