A SERIES of police raids at hairdressers in the town lead to three men being arrested for immigration offences.

The Advertiser reported last week that car washes, hairdressers, and a takeaway were visited by officers looking into human trafficking.

The raids were part of on-going work within the Multi Agency Targeted Enforcement Strategy (MATES) in Redditch.

They comprised officers from West Mercia Police (WMP), Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service (HWFRS), Home Office Immigration (HOI), Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) and council officials from a range of functions including licensing, housing and water management.

The operation sought to identify issues of modern slavery, exploitation of vulnerable people, human trafficking, which includes illegal working and the condition of the accommodation above the businesses where employees resided as well as fire regulations, licensing and business regulations.

During the operation, immigration officers arrested three men for immigration offences.

At Euro Diamond Scissors in Hewell Road, a Pakistani man aged 32 and an Iraqi man aged 18 were arrested as checks showed they had entered the UK illegally.

At Top Cutz, Ipsley Street, a Pakistani man, aged 40, was arrested who had also entered the UK illegally.

The 32 year-old was detained pending removal from the UK and the other two men must report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are progressed.

At the time of the raids Redditch Safer Neighbourhood team inspector Mark Chappell said he received information from the community about some of the establishments concerned.

"These visits demonstrate the effectiveness of our partnership working in Redditch and the successful interventions which ultimately protect members of our community," he said.

"It is important that people running businesses in Redditch comply with the law, fire safety and council regulations for operating businesses."