CofE app to root out car wash ‘slavery’

CHURCH of England worshippers are being asked to report signs of slave labour at hand car washes.

A smartphone app will help them log evidence of abuse or exploitation when they use such roadside services. They will be encouraged to report any suspicious behaviour, including signs that people are living on the site or the presence of child workers.

The UK’s one million Church members are asked to help gather information on whether bosses appear ‘over-controlling or intimidating’ and whether workers appear ‘fearful or withdrawn’. The scheme – which starts in June – is run by the Church’s Clewer Initiative to combat modern slavery and is linked to law enforcement agencies. The Bishop of Derby, the Right Reverend Alastair Redfern, said the app provided an ‘unprecedented intelligence gathering exercise’.

Hand car washes now account for more than 70 per cent of services in the UK and many are run by Eastern Europeans. Police raids revealed some are run by gang masters or for money-laundering.