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| Slavery farm inquiry 'shocking', says Home Office | Slavery farm inquiry 'shocking', says Home Office |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| As police continue to search for human remains at a farm, the Home Office says the case serves as an "appalling reminder of the extent to which slavery has reappeared in our country". | As police continue to search for human remains at a farm, the Home Office says the case serves as an "appalling reminder of the extent to which slavery has reappeared in our country". |
| Officers are using mechanical diggers to excavate a site between Cardiff and Newport. | Officers are using mechanical diggers to excavate a site between Cardiff and Newport. |
| Four people are being questioned following raids by an anti-slavery Operation Imperial. | Four people are being questioned following raids by an anti-slavery Operation Imperial. |
| On Monday, a second man was found living in poor condition on the site. | On Monday, a second man was found living in poor condition on the site. |
| The multi-agency inquiry was sparked earlier in the year by the discovery of a "vulnerable" man found living in poor conditions on Cariad Farm in Peterstone - described in a Newport Council document as gypsy and traveller family-owned accommodation. | The multi-agency inquiry was sparked earlier in the year by the discovery of a "vulnerable" man found living in poor conditions on Cariad Farm in Peterstone - described in a Newport Council document as gypsy and traveller family-owned accommodation. |
| Darrell Simester, 43, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had been missing for 13 years since disappearing while on a holiday in Porthcawl, south Wales. | 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. | 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 farm remained sealed off after a team of more than 100 police officers cordoned it off along with two properties in Cardiff and Monmouthshire early on Monday. | |
| But police said on Tuesday that Cariad Farm was now the only focus of their investigations. | |
| Detectives also said an anonymous letter sent to officers could be crucial to the inquiry. | Detectives also said an anonymous letter sent to officers could be crucial to the inquiry. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The letter contains information which may be vital to this investigation." | "The letter contains information which may be vital to this investigation." |
| 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 - remain in police custody. | |
| 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. | 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." | "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 inquiries continued. | |
| On Monday, Ch Insp Huw Nicholas said the raids had followed six months of investigation and that efforts would continue to establish whether a body had been buried on the farm. | |
| "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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A Home Office spokesperson said: "The home secretary has made clear her determination to tackle the scourge of modern slavery and the organised criminal gangs behind it. | A Home Office spokesperson said: "The home secretary has made clear her determination to tackle the scourge of modern slavery and the organised criminal gangs behind it. |
| "We are already taking action on a number of fronts. We are working with frontline professionals to help them better identify and support potential victims. | "We are already taking action on a number of fronts. We are working with frontline professionals to help them better identify and support potential victims. |
| "The new National Crime Agency will, from next month, lead an enhanced and co-ordinated response to targeting trafficking gangs, and we will be overhauling and updating legislation by bringing forward a draft Modern Slavery Bill this session." | "The new National Crime Agency will, from next month, lead an enhanced and co-ordinated response to targeting trafficking gangs, and we will be overhauling and updating legislation by bringing forward a draft Modern Slavery Bill this session." |