Why it’s time to clean up illegal car washes which cause misery: Greg Wright

That’s why we must welcome the announcement by the new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that car washes will be targeted by immigration officers as they step up enforcement action over the summer.

Ms Cooper said she had directed Immigration Enforcement to focus on employers who are fuelling the trade of criminal gangs by exploiting and facilitating illegal working in the UK, including the operators of car washes.

There is ample evidence that the crackdown on illegal car washes is long overdue. Professor Ian Clark, of Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University, has researched the impact of hand car washes on workers and the environment.

Back in 2018, Prof Clark carried out a study of 45 hand car washes. He told MPs that hospitals in Nottingham had reported car-wash workers developing trench foot, because of soaking wet feet, and hydrochloric acid burns.

Professor Clark’s research in Nottingham found evidence of “wage theft”, in other words, non-payment of the national minimum wage or the living wage. Holiday pay or other employment protections were not enforced. Professor Clark also discovered that many hand car washes were not connected to the correct foul sewers. There was evidence of the tarmac being worn away by cleaning chemicals, which fills you with horror when you consider the impact these chemicals might have had on workers’ health.

Six years ago, MPs called on the Government to trial a licensing scheme for hand car washes to make it harder for the rogues to prosper.

Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association (CWA), said it was encouraging that the new Home Secretary, was focusing on illegal employment in sectors like car washes. This action is a critical step in combating modern slavery and protecting vulnerable workers, Mr Balmer added.

But he continued: “The CWA has long been deeply concerned about the persistent presence of non-compliant hand car washes operating illegally and disregarding health and safety standards. Despite consistently bringing this matter to the attention of previous Ministers, our concerns were largely ignored.

"We were early supporters and funders of the Responsible Car Wash Scheme, which submitted a comprehensive report to the Home Office in September 2022. Unfortunately, the report did not receive the attention it deserved.”

The CWA “strongly recommends” that the Government supports an enforceable licensing scheme for hand car washes, including sanctions and enforcement by local councils and environmental health authorities.

By taking tough, decisive action Ms Cooper has the chance to wipe out rogue car wash operators that often serve as fronts for organised crime and money laundering. The reputable businesses will be allowed to flourish. Your car will be as clean as your conscience.

Greg Wright is the deputy business editor of The Yorkshire Post