Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Could more be done by care watchdogs to tackle modern day slavery?

News | Alexia Conrath | Published: 11:05, Friday November 22nd, 2019.
Last updated: 11:05, Friday November 22nd, 2019
Ashville Care Home in Brithdir

Questions have been asked over whether care watchdogs should be more vigilant in spotting cases of modern day slavery.

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Assembly Member Dawn Bowden raised the issue in the Senedd following a raid at a care home in Brithdir earlier this month.

Up to 14 women were said to have been living in a small terraced house in nearby Herbert Street while working round-the-clock shifts at Ashville Residential Care Home. Neighbours have suggested the workers may be of Jamaican origin.

Another care home in Newport was also raided by police on the same morning, Thursday, November 7.

Two men, aged 53 and 64, of Newport, and a man, 43, of Surrey, were arrested and later released while under investigation.

A 43-year-old Rhymney woman was also arrested and later released on bail.

At the National Assembly of Wales on November 12, Ms Bowden asked First Minister Mark Drakeford what the Welsh Government was doing to combat modern day slavery.

Merthyr and Rhymney AM Dawn Bowden

She asked Mr Drakeford: “Should we be looking to ensure that inspection bodies are more alert to the issues around modern slavery and what they should be looking out for as a further way to help tackle this problem in the care sector in Wales?”

The First Minister said evidence would be gathered and lessons learned.

He also highlighted how Wales is the only UK country to have an anti-slavery co-ordinator and that last year 251 cases of modern day slavery were brought to light – up from 34 in 2012.

Speaking afterwards, Ms Bowden said: “I would urge everyone to be vigilant about the problem of modern day slavery and urge people to report any concerns they may have about the exploitation of vulnerable people.

“In the case of the recent incidents then Gwent Police must be left to continue their inquiries.”

Modern day slavery is defined as the “recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation.”

Google

Latest News

  • Gerwyn Price during his defeat to Ross Smith
    Price denied second consecutive Players Championship title after deciding leg defeatThursday, September 11, 2025
  • Cllr Sean Morgan, leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council
    Council leader steps down and says he is no longer ‘aligned’ with Labour PartyThursday, September 11, 2025
  • 2025 WDO regional champions Rhylee Mansfield, Jenson Ellaway, Lucas Milligan, and Callum Smith, alongside club co-founder John Mullen
    Markham’s budding darts talents celebrating recent successesWednesday, September 10, 2025
  • Care home residents remember Caerphilly’s iconic Double Diamond ClubWednesday, September 10, 2025
  • The Ty Llwyd quarry site
    ‘Payment error’ saw council receive £259 instead of £259,000 for quarry worksWednesday, September 10, 2025
  • A previous view of the Open Hearth pub, Newport, pictured in July 2008
    Affordable homes plan for site of demolished pubWednesday, September 10, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 4, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: St Cenydd Road, TrecenyddTuesday, September 2, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Heol Aneurin, PenyrheolTuesday, September 2, 2025
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Tredegar Street, RiscaSaturday, August 16, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.