Car washes and speeding drivers targeted in Rotherham

Car washes were being targeted to tackle modern day slavery during the latest Operation Duxford crackdown by the police.

CAR washes were being targeted to tackle modern day slavery during the latest Operation Duxford crackdown by the police, which also saw 18 people arrested and more than 70 drivers caught speeding.

South Yorkshire Police carried out warrants and arrests in Rotherham on a dedicated day of action.

The Advertiser understands that during the day, police visited up to a car wash sites to seek potential victims of modern slavery.  

More than 130 officers took to the streets of Rotherham on Wednesday.

Across the day there were:

  • 18 arrests for a range of offences including drugs, traffic and weapon offences. 
  • The seizure of 600 cannabis plants, as well as a “large quantity” of bagged cannabis and a quantity of Class A drugs.
  • Almost £25,000 in cash seized.
  • 73 notices issued for speeding offences.

Police said the operation had included joint working with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLA), trading standards, Rotherham Council and the Environment Agency “to protect vulnerable victims at possible sites of interest for modern slavery”.

Det Chief Insp Aneela Khalil-Khan said: “Operation Duxford is all about showing our communities that we are listening to them and tackling the issues that they have told us matter most to them.

“Across the day of action, additional resources from our specialist teams were utilised to allow us to bolster the work our neighbourhood teams deliver day-in and day-out and make a big impact through the operation, executing warrants, making arrests and providing reassurance to residents.

“It is also a great opportunity to work with our partners to get out there and speak to our communities and deliver engagement and crime prevention activity in key areas.

“The results from yesterday really show why we deliver these kind of operations, but I understand that no matter how successful these days of action are, there will always be more to be done.”