A Cambridgeshire car wash has been fined £20,000 after being found to have illegal workers. SG Hand Car Wash Ltd in Whittlesey, was fined after an immigration enforcement visit on June 13, 2023.
The visit followed a report of illegal working. A civil penalty of £20,000 was issued after the employer was found to be employing two people with no right to work in the UK.
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A Cambridgeshire Constabulary spokesperson said officers visited the site in June 2023 and discovered two illegal workers. One of the illegal workers was arrested and handed over to immigration services so their details could be confirmed, while the other was asked to leave the site.
The police spokesperson said: “Although most hand car washes are run as reputable businesses, sadly some exploit workers to maximise profits. At a time when money is increasingly tight, it is understandably tempting to seek out goods and services that are as cheap as possible, but please do not allow this to blind you to the exploitation and suffering of other people who may be paying a very heavy price for the money you are saving.”
They added: “Often, enslaved people don’t realise they are victims, or they are so scared of those controlling them that they don’t see a way out. That’s where the public come in – please know the signs of modern slavery and report any concerns.
“Please let us know if a situation doesn’t seem quite right. We’d much rather attend the premises and discover everything is legitimate than have a victim of slavery trapped in a horrendous situation.”
