GWENT Police have carried out checks for modern day slavery at hand car washes across Gwent.
Officers from the Modern Day Slavery Team visited a total of 12 car washes across Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen and Newport this week.
Other agencies - the Department of Work and Pensions, Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority and the Risca Neighbourhood Team - also assisted with the checks.
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Detective Sergeant Mandi Venn said: "Visits have been aimed to improve engagement with workers and have included awareness educational work and safeguarding those working within hand car washes. Information on rights and entitlements for workers in the UK were provided in a variety of languages for all workers.
“With the particularly cold temperatures this week, the team also identified that many workers were working in freezing cold temperatures, washing cars, day in day out.
"Following the visits, referrals have been made to the Health and Safety Executive and Natural Resource Wales.”
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If anyone has concerns about modern day slavery, you should e-mail ModernDaySlavery@gwent.pnn.police.uk (or in an emergency ring 999). Alternatively, you can contact The Modern Day Slavery Helpline 08000 121 700 or Unseen 0303 040 2888.
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