A 48-year-old woman was arrested yesterday morning in the Southdown area of Bath on suspicion of human trafficking offences, related to an investigation launched in February 2016.
This arrest relates to the human trafficking investigation launched by Avon and Somerset Police in February 2016 following a multi-agency welfare visit to a nail bar in Bath city centre.
The investigation has since widened to other areas of the country as a result of the enquiries and further co-ordinated police operations also took place yesterday morning in Staffordshire, Cheltenham and London.
Det Insp Charlotte Tucker, of North East Investigations, said: “This nationwide inquiry stemmed from a multi-agency welfare check we carried out a nail bar in Bath city centre just over a year ago.
“We’re working closely with our police colleagues in Staffordshire, Gloucestershire and London, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service, to investigate what we believe to be human trafficking and modern slavery offences involving nail bars.
“We’ve identified four female victims who have been referred into a national process specifically for victims and suspected victims of Modern Slavery crimes
“Today’s arrests are a significant step forward in this complex and fast-moving inquiry and our absolute priority continues to be the protection and safeguarding of vulnerable young victims.”
