Modern Day Slavery is present in every area of the UK, with thousands of cases being referred each year.
Officers were joined by a team from the Gangmasters and Labour Authority for a raid at Splash Car Valeting car wash in Picton Road, Wavertree yesterday.
The team arrested two people on suspicion of forced labour and immigration offences.
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Officers found two people working at the site who they believed were the victims of modern slavery.
A tweet from the Merseyside Police South Liverpool team said these two people had now been protected from such exploitation.
Merseyside drivers were left 'devastated' after the car wash raid, but how can you spot the signs of modern day slavery?
Is there a cash-only policy?
If a car wash only accepts cash, offers no receipt or only the manager handles money, it could be a sign the business is not paying tax and national insurance or paying workers properly.
It’s more likely a car wash operating outside of the tax regime will be willing and able to exploit its workers.
Are children working on site?
Although employing children of 13 and above is not illegal, their young age and the low-cost of their labour makes them increasingly vulnerable to exploitation.
Children under the age of 16 are not entitled to the national minimum wage, while those over the age of 16 are covered by the legislation but are only entitled to a wage that is significantly lower than the national minimum wage.
Do workers look fearful?
Workers looking fearful could be a sign of the various methods used to control workers who are being exploited, such as threats, intimidation, physical violence, coercion, debt bondage and withholding wages.
Do workers have access to suitable clothing?
Health and safety regulations require employers to take practical steps to reduce the risk of harm to their workers, which includes providing protective clothing such as gloves, boots and overalls.
Some hand car washes use harmful chemicals such as hydrochloric acid when washing vehicles.
No protective equipment could be a sign that employers are in breach of health and safety rules.
Are there signs workers are living on the car wash site?
A report on the nature of exploitation in the hand car wash sector found that it’s not uncommon for workers to be living on the car wash site in accommodation provided by the employer.
Signs such as containers, caravans, bedding and mattresses, which indicate that workers were living on the car wash site.
- If you suspect modern slavery, report it to the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or the police on 101.
