This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-24215255

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Dig for body goes on at 'slavery' raid south Wales farm Dig for body goes on at 'slavery' raid south Wales farm
(about 5 hours later)
The search for a body at a farm raided by police as part of an anti-slavery operation could take up to three days, the officer in charge has warned. Police searching for a body at a farm raided in an anti-slavery operation have appealed for the author of an anonymous letter to come forward, saying it could be "vital".
Specialist officers with mechanical diggers have begun excavating at the site between Newport and Cardiff. Specialist officers are excavating the site at Marshfield, near Newport.
Four people, three men and a woman, were held after raids in Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Marshfield. Four people - three men and a woman - are being held after raids in Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Marshfield on Monday.
Operation Imperial is looking at claims people were kept in poor conditions and forced to work for no pay.Operation Imperial is looking at claims people were kept in poor conditions and forced to work for no pay.
The farm at Marshfield remained sealed off overnight as the search started for a possible body buried at the location. The farm at Marshfield remained sealed off after a team of more than 100 police officers cordoned off the farm and two other properties early on Monday.
A team of more than 100 police officers closed off the farm and two other properties early on Monday. On Tuesday detectives said an anonymous letter sent to police could be crucial to the inquiry.
The inquiry was sparked by the discovery of another man found living in poor conditions in Marshfield, on the outskirts of Newport, earlier this year. Senior investigating officer Det Supt Paul Griffiths said: "I'm making a personal appeal to the author of an anonymous letter which was sent to a neighbouring force some months ago to contact us.
An Eastern European man was taken to a "place of safety" after Monday's raids. His mental and physical health are being assessed by the Red Cross. "The letter contains information which may be vital to this investigation."
The inquiry was sparked earlier in the year by the discovery of a "vulnerable" man found living in poor conditions on the farm.
Darrell Simester, 43, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had been missing for 13 years since disappearing while on a holiday in Porthcawl, south Wales.
On Monday police confirmed that another man, believed to be from Poland, had been taken to a "place of safety". His mental and physical health are being assessed by the Red Cross.
The four arrested - a 66-year-old man and a 42-year-old both from the Marshfield area, a 36-year-old man from the Cardiff area, and a 42-year-old woman from Penhow, Monmouthshire - remain in police custody.The four arrested - a 66-year-old man and a 42-year-old both from the Marshfield area, a 36-year-old man from the Cardiff area, and a 42-year-old woman from Penhow, Monmouthshire - remain in police custody.
Ch Insp Huw Nicholas of Gwent Police said the raids followed six months of investigation. Det Supt Griffiths added: "As a result of the publicity generated by the police activity I'm grateful to the people who have contacted us with information which is assisting our inquiry.
"Importantly, we've received a number of calls from individuals who may also be potential victims or important witnesses."
He also thanked the community for their understanding while the investigation took place.
Earlier, Ch Insp Huw Nicholas said the raids had followed six months of investigation.
"We do have information there may be a body buried at that site and it would be remiss of us at this time not to investigate those fully, hence the scale of our operations there," he said."We do have information there may be a body buried at that site and it would be remiss of us at this time not to investigate those fully, hence the scale of our operations there," he said.
"We will exhaustively inquire into that but at the moment we have no more than the suggestion that there could be a body buried there."We will exhaustively inquire into that but at the moment we have no more than the suggestion that there could be a body buried there.
"We anticipate being there for some three days.""We anticipate being there for some three days."
Poor conditions
A large manure and compost heap is being examined, and officers are being assisted by a forensic archaeologist.A large manure and compost heap is being examined, and officers are being assisted by a forensic archaeologist.
There are other residents on the farm land and anyone entering or leaving is being asked to sign in and out.There are other residents on the farm land and anyone entering or leaving is being asked to sign in and out.
Operation Imperial has centred around evidence and intelligence suggesting that people were being kept in poor conditions at the Marshfield site and forced to work for no pay.Operation Imperial has centred around evidence and intelligence suggesting that people were being kept in poor conditions at the Marshfield site and forced to work for no pay.
Earlier this year, 43-year-old Darrell Simester, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was found living in poor conditions having been missing for 13 years.
His discovery led to a wider investigation.
Gwent Police is working in conjunction with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), other forces, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, RSPCA and the Red Cross.Gwent Police is working in conjunction with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), other forces, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, RSPCA and the Red Cross.
The force says the potential offences they are investigating are serious, and officers have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.The force says the potential offences they are investigating are serious, and officers have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
An RSPCA spokeswoman says an inspector has been asked to assess the welfare of a number of horses.