Ripon Netflix star fronts modern slavery campaignPilot panel to help victims of slavery and exploitation in North Yorkshire

A new panel is to be set up to support for victims of trafficking and exploitation in North Yorkshire.

The pilot project involves the creation of a new local panel which will make decisions on protecting and supporting adult and child victims.

The panel has powers to create specialised support, which may include protection from their traffickers or other criminals, accommodation, access to legal advice and emotional and practical help. Previously, these decisions were made by the Home Office.

The Harrogate area has had a long standing problem of gangs using vulnerable children to move drugs over county borders and sell them in the town.  The children or vulnerable adults are recruited with gifts or money and then locked into the criminal network through the use of violence, intimidation, debt and grooming.

There have also been cases of modern slavery in the district. In September last year six workers were rescued from a take-away in Ripon after residents raised concerns about their living conditions.

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The new twelve month panel will be run by North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council with input from other organisations including NHS bodies and North Yorkshire Police.

Jess Markwart, manager for multiple vulnerabilities with North Yorkshire County Council said:

“Many people may be surprised to learn that modern slavery affects North Yorkshire, as well as the rest of the UK, but sadly, that is the case.

“The creation of this panel gives us powers locally to make decisions on keeping victims safe and removing them from the criminals’ control. The local agencies involved with the panel will have local knowledge and context and will be well placed to put in place the best possible support to keep people safe and protected from traumatic circumstances.”

Rose Howley, head of assessment and targeted intervention with the City of York Council’s Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) said:

“The new, multi-agency panel enables decisions to be made quickly and effectively on keeping child victims safe from exploitation and serious criminal activity.

“It also means we can draw on a range of services and expertise in the county to put in place the right kind of support; whether that’s legal advice, help with safe accommodation or emotional support.”

Possible signs that a child is experiencing a form of harm, such as exploitation, include a change in behaviour, such as becoming unusually withdrawn, secretive behaviour, having more money, clothes or other items they usually couldn’t afford, or being seen in places they shouldn’t be during school hours or normal term-time.

How to spot potential modern slavery at hand car washes

Workers with the wrong equipment or living at the site are among the signs of suspected modern slavery to look out for at hand car washes, according to an expert.

Darryl Dixon, director of strategy at the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the agency which investigates worker exploitation, said while the signs may not necessarily be modern slavery offences, reporting them can help with investigations.

Mr Dixon was speaking to the Stray Ferret following the sentencing of Defrim Paci, the sole owner of Harrogate Hand Carwash on Sykes Grove, for crimes he committed at another car wash in Carlisle.

Paci was jailed for 45 months for the mistreatment and exploitation of workers who travelled to the UK from their native Romania in search of better lives.

Speaking about the potential signs of modern slavery at hand car washes, Mr Dixon said the number of workers, whether they have the right equipment and buildings which are seemingly used for accommodation were the most common.

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However, he added that those may not amount to offences.

Mr Dixon said the GLAA often gets reports from the public on car washes because as businesses they are visible and used frequently by people.

He said:

“There could be issues with the information. Sometimes the information we get is low level or low quality.

“You need a lot of information to see if there is modern slavery.”

But, Mr Dixon said it was important for people to continue to report issues to the authorities.

He said:

“It’s important to report something if you think it looks like a problem.

“The more information we get can help us build a picture and assess if something is going on.”

Those wishing to report potential modern slavery at a hand car wash can do so through the Safe Car Wash app, which was set up by the Church of England’s anti-slavery arm, the Clewer Initiative, and the Catholic Church.

The information reported is anonymised and is shared with the National Crime Agency and Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

Harrogate car wash owner found guilty of modern slavery

A Harrogate car wash owner has today been found guilty of modern slavery crimes.

Defrim Paci, a 42-year-old married father-of-four, was one of two men convicted at Carlisle Crown Court.

Mr Paci is sole director of Harrogate Hand Carwash on Sykes Grove but the crimes were committed against workers at a Carlisle car wash.

After a six-week trial, Paci, of Windmill Close, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire and Sitar Ali, of Adelaide Street, Carlisle, were unanimously convicted of conspiracy to require others to perform forced or compulsory labour at the Carlisle car wash Shiny, and conspiracy to facilitate travel with a view to exploitation.

Jurors deliberated for almost 27 hours across six days.

The court heard graphic evidence about terrible conditions in which employees at Shiny were forced to carry out daily duties.

Several told of working long hours for little pay and being denied breaks when the car wash was busy during 2016 and 2017, and not being given the freedom to take time off.

One described being left “very tired”, hungry and with just £20 in his first pay packet as he worked nine long days in a row. He was also one of several workers who complained that no protective clothing was provided, and said water had “eaten away at my feet” as it seeped through his trainers.

Skin burned

One worker recalled buying cheap gloves from Tesco to protect his hands from cleaning chemicals which, some employees complained, burned the skin on their face and body.

Workers also reported rat and insect infestation sightings in their “very dirty” Carlisle multi-occupancy accommodation, having paid for transportation from their native Romania to north Cumbria.

Travel costs and deposits were deducted from weekly pay and wage slips, where issued, understated working hours and overstated the amount of money earned.

Employees were taken to a charity safe centre on May 10, 2017, when health and safety officers called at Shiny, issuing several improvement notices as police arrested suspects.

One worker later told police:

“They treated me the same like they would do with a slave.”

Paci ‘operated at the top’

Paci was said to have “operated at the top” of the criminal enterprise, buying land and setting up a business, which was managed by Sitar Ali.

Ali was also convicted of possessing criminal property after £16,000 was found in a BMW after his arrest.

Martin Reid, prosecuting, told jurors:

“It is the prosecution case that the circumstances created by the defendants led to the freedom of these workers effectively being overridden.”

Paci and Ali will be sentenced on July 30.

Denied bail

Barristers representing the two men made pleas for bail in the meantime, so they could put “affairs in order” ahead of sentencing, which one suggested was a “significant inevitability”.

But Judge Nicholas Barker remanded both men into custody, saying.

“I fully accept that these matters have been hanging over you for many, many years now and you have been on bail for an extended period of time.

“However, the fact of your convictions changes the circumstances. In my judgement there is a flight risk that you have. Both of you have access to connections overseas.”

A third man, 37-year-old Jetmir Paci, was acquitted by jurors of two conspiracy allegations.

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Trial starts of Harrogate car wash owner accused of modern slavery

Defrim Paci, 42, his brother Jetmir Paci, 37 and Sitar Ali, 33, all stand accused of modern slavery crimes committed against Romanian nationals at the car wash Shiny, on Warwick Road in Carlisle during 2016 and 2017.

Carlisle Crown Court heard today how car wash employees were “burned” by chemicals and “compelled to work long hours in bad conditions for little pay” during alleged exploitation after being transported from abroad.

Mr Paci is the sole director of the Harrogate Hand Carwash on Sykes Grove. The charges do not relate to this business.

‪Prosecutor Martin Reid told the jury:

“This case is all about forced labour and arranging for people to come to the UK with a view to their being exploited.”

‪Defrim Paci, of Windmill Close, Sutton-in-Ashfield, “operated at the top of the conspiracy” which centred on the Carlisle car wash, alleged Mr Reid.

Defrim’s brother, Jetmir, is said to have been involved in building work at the site, along with the transportation of staff.

The city business was managed by Ali, whose responsibilities included daily treatment of staff, their wages and payment for their transport to this country, plus their accommodation and rent collection.

Mr Reid alleged:

‪“It is the prosecution case that the circumstances created by the defendants led to the freedom of these workers effectively being over-ridden, and that they were compelled to work long hours in bad conditions for little pay, their labour being exploited for the benefit of the defendants.”

‪Several workers, said the prosecutor, had identity cards taken away until travel cost debt was repaid; were required to live in “very dirty” rat and insect-infested multi-occupancy accommodation in Carlisle; and were “faced with having only £20 in their pockets from a week’s work of 11 hours a day, six days a week”.

‪Some described having no breaks, of having skin on their face and body “burned” by cleaning chemicals, and of receiving no protective clothing. One recalled buying some gloves for £2 from Tesco. Another said:

“They treated me the same like they would do with a slave.”

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‪The Paci brothers and Ali each deny two charges. One alleges conspiracy to require others to perform forced or compulsory labour at Shiny in Carlisle; the other alleges conspiracy to facilitate travel with a view to exploitation. Ali further denies possessing criminal cash.

‪Jurors were told, in addition to witness testimony, they would consider a wealth of documentary evidence. This includes mobile phone data collected during the police investigation, details of two immigration visits to the car wash and searches of all the defendants’ homes.

Defrim Paci and Jetmir Paci, of Minimum Terrace, Chesterfield, both told police when interviewed they had no roles in the operation of Shiny Carlisle.

Of Defrim Paci, Mr Reid said:

“The Crown understands his case to be that he was not in charge of the business, nor was he involved in the management or day to day running of the business.”

Ali, of Adelaide Street, Carlisle, also denies any wrongdoing.

‪The trial, which is expected to last around six weeks, continues.

Routine traffic stop in Pannal leads to three modern slavery arrests

Police officers made three arrests connected to modern slavery after pulling over a car in Pannal at 3 am last night during a routine traffic stop.

Following checks on the Audi A4 and the occupants, a 47-year-old man from Leeds and a 32-year-old woman from Birmingham were arrested for suspected modern slavery and people trafficking offences. They have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A 23-year-old woman from Leeds was also arrested for possession of a Class A drug. No further action was taken against her and officers have provided safeguarding support.

The police is asking anyone who may have information that could assist its investigation to call 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room quoting the reference number 12200148140.

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Modern slavery is thought to be one of the most lucrative forms of organised crime, with the International Labour Organisation estimating its global annual worth at £150 billion.

Modern slavery can come in many forms, including forced labour, sexual exploitation and forced criminality linked to drugs.