POLICE investigating one of the first modern day slavery cases in East Lancashire have arrested a man from Nelson.

The 29-year-old was arrested on Monday night in connection with the investigation, which saw officers storm a building in Albert Road, Burnley, on Monday morning.

The man was still in custody last night and had not been charged with any offence.

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Police raided the building and freed the suspected slave who said he was being made to work against his will at 10.20am.

More than 10 officers swooped on the premises understood to be used as a car wash and garage business with infrequent opening hours.

Officers cut open metal shutters on the door watched by a crowd of residents.

The victim was taken to a safe place where he was being supported by a number of charities and agencies, police said.

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Modern slavery, or human trafficking, is the movement of a person from one place to another - this could be country to country or town to town. The victim is moved into conditions of exploitation, using deception, coercion or abuse of power or the abuse of the person’s vulnerability.

Even if a victim consents and is willing to be moved, trafficking could still be taking place.

Corner shop owner Mohammed Razaque said: “At about 10.30am two police vans turned up and 10 officers jumped out and started breaking into the building through the door which had a shutter on it.

“Once they were inside they opened the main shutter from inside.”

The victim is now in a safe place, where he is being supported by a number of charities and agencies, police said.

One witness said: “Nothing surprises me round here anymore the way things are going.

“It is scary to think that was happening, though.

“I don’t know how they could get away with that.”

“I’ve never heard of anything like that happening in Burnley before.

“It is really shocking.”

Modern slavery, or human trafficking, is the movement of a person from one place to another - this could be country to country or town to town.

The victim is moved into conditions of exploitation, using deception, coercion, abuse of power or the abuse of the person’s vulnerability. Even if a victim consents and is willing to be moved, trafficking could still be taking place.

According to Lancashire Police, the most common countries of origin for adult referrals include Albania, Nigeria, Vietnam, Romania, the UK, Poland, Hungary, China, Lithuania and Latvia.

Coun Julie Cooper, a Bank Hall councillor and former leader of Burnley Council, said she was ‘appalled’ to hear slavery was happening in 21st century Burnley.

She said: “Just like any decent person, I am appalled to hear about this case.

“Britain prides itself on its freedoms and we expect people to enjoy the right to live peacefully and freely in our country.

“The term slavery has third world connotations and I am glad this case has been uncovered by the police. I hope they will take very strong action.”

Det Insp Nick Hodgeson, said: “This is one of the first of its kind in Lancashire and it demonstrates our commitment to tackling modern day slavery and trafficking, protecting the public is at its core.

“This area of policing is complex and identifying modern day slavery can be difficult. Here in Lancashire we are continuing to raise awareness amongst the public and other professionals about modern day slavery and we would encourage any victims to come forward safe in the knowledge that there is support and help out there for them.”

This is not the first case of modern slavery in East Lancashire. In 2013, Azam Khan, of Brougham Street, Burnley, was found guilty of trafficking a young Eastern European woman for exploitation, false imprisonment, three charges of rape and one offence of battery.

He kept the 23-year-old as a slave above the Khan Brothers store in Brougham Street and sexually abused her. Khan was given a 12-year prison sentence.

His aunt, Nusrat Khan, at whose Colne Road home the young woman was eventually found by police, was convicted of false imprisonment.

Anyone with any information about modern slavery should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 For more information about spotting the signs of someone affected by the crime, visit www.lancashire.police.uk.