POLICE have arrested two further people as part of an operation into human trafficking in Derby. The force yesterday made a series of arrests as a result of an investigation into an Eastern European trafficking ring Officers believe the 11 alleged victims the investigation revealed could be the first of many to come forward.
Detectives investigating the allegation believe the practice has been happening in Derby "for a few years".
And they hope the news will urge other possible victims to feel confident enough to speak to them.
The claim comes after dawn raids on properties across the city saw five people from one extended family arrested and the potential victims found.
Two warrants were carried out at houses in Sunnyhill Avenue, one was executed at a house in Balfour Road while a fourth was carried out at a house in Cameron Road during planned raids.
A 35-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were arrested at a house in Amber Street, which police visited as part of the operation yesterday morning.
A 40-year-old man, 41-year-old woman and 22-year-old woman were arrested at the Cameron Road house.
The 35-year-old, 37-year-old, 40-year-old and 22-year-old were all arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit human trafficking, fraud and money laundering.
The 41-year-old was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit human trafficking and money laundering. All five remain in custody and are being questioned by officers.
And late yesterday, a 21-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman were arrested at a house in Violet Street, Derby, yesterday afternoon, taking the number of arrested people to seven. The pair were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit human trafficking and money laundering. They remain in custody this morning and are being questioned by officers.
Detective Inspector Emlyn Richards said: "We do not believe the victims were living in squalor."The investigation came to light in April when one of the victims voluntarily walked into a police station in Derby to tell officers his wages were being taken from him by people who had told him to come to England from Eastern Europe.
"We say they were being lured over to the UK on the promise of gainful employment but when they arrived they were then found basic manual jobs and had a good proportion of their wages taken from them.
"We also believe their bank accounts were controlled and in other cases benefits were fraudulently set up and the money was taken by the gang.
"We think these might be the first of many victims and we hope the news of the arrests will bring others forward."
The 11 potential victims, who police believe have been trafficked into the UK from Eastern Europe, were found at the houses in Sunnyhill Avenue and Cameron Road.
They have been taken to a special reception centre and are being cared for by Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
Officers suspect some of the victims, all of whom are in the UK legally, may have been sent to work at different locations in the city.
Raj Cheema, 39, lives opposite two of the houses in Sunnyhill Avenue. He said: "It was about 7.30am and I heard banging from across the street.
"I looked outside and there were officers banging the doors down. Then plain clothes officers came. I assumed they were CID."
