Two individuals have been apprehended following a series of warrant executions in Scunthorpe, aimed at shielding those most vulnerable to slavery. The Humberside Police’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking team coordinated the operations, targeting both business and residential sites on Wednesday. A third arrest was made in South Yorkshire. Raids occurred at Ferry Road, Crowberry Drive, and Wrawby Road in Scunthorpe, alongside Glebe Road in Brigg, and two locations in Doncaster, with South Yorkshire Police lending their support. A man and a woman were taken into custody under suspicion of money laundering and forced labour from sites in Scunthorpe. In Doncaster, a man was arrested under suspicion of a raft of offences, including exploitation, human trafficking, forced labour, money laundering, theft, and criminal damage. The trio remain in police custody as investigations continue. During the operation, the police confiscated £70,000 in cash, digital devices, paperwork and identification documents. Detective Sergeant Richard Kirk emphasised the importance of such operations in preventing slavery and exploitation within the community. The operation was backed by several units, including Kinetic, Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation teams, Police Dog Unit, Scunthorpe Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Digital Media and Digital Forensics Investigators, Crime Scene Investigators, Licensing Officers, and partners at North Lincolnshire Council, and Adult Safeguarding teams.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
