NEARLY 30 arrests were made and 18 victims of slavery or human trafficking rescued across Greater Manchester during a successful week-long regional crackdown.

Homes and businesses in Bolton were among the 207 different address visited by Greater Manchester Police officers, firefighters, immigration officials, tax officials, council officers, officials from the NHS and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and representatives from campaign charity Stop The Traffik.

They were looking for criminals subjecting British nationals and foreigners alike to sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude and to save suspected victims, who were sheltered at a reception centre run by the Red Cross where specially trained staff provided much-needed care, support and rehabilitation.

Officers from Bolton's Operation Challenger team visited terraced homes believed to be brothels and found two Romanian prostitutes at a home in Gilnow Grove, Bolton, that will be shut.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, head of crime, said: "The week of action reinforces our commitment to helping vulnerable people, taking them to a place of safety and giving them the support they need.

"This is and will continue to be our main priority.

"Rest assured that our work to tackle modern slavery doesn’t stop here.

"Traffickers are not welcome on our streets and Greater Manchester Police will continue to work all year round to bring offenders to justice."

GMP arrested a total of 14 people and immigration officers arrested 13 for crimes such as modern slavery, kidnap, employing illegal workers and suspicion of illegal entry.

Police recovered a Range Rover and made 34 referrals to other agencies such as Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the DWP and council housing standards teams.

Nineteen referral notices were served on the employers of illegal workers, 13 employees without the right to work were escorted off their premises and 23 notices were served on EU nationals who, in order to remain in the UK, must actively seek legal work, begin to claim benefits or enter study — or else leave the country.

John Harrison, from the Greater Manchester Immigration Enforcement team, said: "This was a successful operation where we made arrests for a number of offences relating to illegal working, and we will continue our work to identify people abusing the UK’s immigration laws."

Greater Manchester's Police and Crime Commissioner and interim mayor Tony Lloyd said: "The success of this operation is significant, but more importantly, this is good news for the 18 people who have been saved from a life of servitude and suffering and will now be supported to rebuild their lives."