In a statement, the GLAA revealed officers acted on intelligence that people were being brought into the UK, subsequently offered out to work and receiving low pay as ‘gangmasters’ received a cut of their wage. They carried out simultaneous swoops on residential premises in Handsworth as part of an investigation into the exploitation of Eastern European workers.

Warrants were executed at addresses in Farnham Road, Headingly Road, Heath Road South and Westbourne Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, while officers also stopped a minibus carrying suspected slavery victims in Westgate, Aldridge near Walsall.

Three men and two women from Poland were taken to a safe place at a reception centre yesterday where they will be given an opportunity to speak to specially trained officers about their circumstances.

Nine men and four women – all Polish nationals – have been arrested on suspicion of slavery offences and taken into custody for questioning.

This joint operation saw the police work alongside a variety of partner agencies as well as the GLAA, including the Red Cross and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

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