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4 November 2015

Dirty dealings: how the car wash became a hub for human trafficking

Modern-day slavery is rife in Britain's hand car washes.

By James Clayton

There is an idealised view of hand car washes. Thrifty teenagers earning some extra cash on Saturdays, to supplement their pocket money perhaps. Spit, polish and elbow grease – an honest way to make an honest buck. The reality is somewhat different.

“Everything bad you can think of with the British labour force is present at a car wash. Slavery, low wages, debt bondage, tax evasion, exploitation. It’s all there”.

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