Search for body at farm in slavery inquiry

Gwent Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) carried out raids at three sites across South Wales last week as part of Operation Imperial, which is also supported by the UK Human Trafficking Centre.

A Polish man was taken to hospital for mental and physical assessment after he was found living in poor conditions at one of the sites.

A second man, 60, who is British, was discovered by police when they raided a former plant nursery in St Brides last Tuesday.

Three men, a 53-year-old, a 38-year-old and a 20-year-old, all from the St Brides area of Newport, were arrested on suspicion of slavery and servitude offences and have been bailed.

A father and his two sons are in custody charged with slavery offences following an appearance before magistrates on Thursday.

Daniel Doran, 66, and son David Dan Doran, 41, are both of Cariad Farm. Thomas Doran, 36, the second son, is from Shire Newton Caravan Site, Cardiff. They face charges of false imprisonment, conspiracy to hold a person in servitude and conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour. In addition, Thomas Doran is charged with kidnapping by fraud,

A 42-year-old woman held during the same raid has been bailed pending further inquiries.

A search operation focusing on Cariad Farm, in Peterstone, outside Newport, is expected to end in the next two days. Specialist officers have been working with a forensic archaeologist searching for a body which may have been buried at the site.

Detective Superintendent Paul Griffiths said: “I’m grateful to the public for their continued support of this investigation. Since last week we have received a number of calls which have been of assistance and I continue to appeal to anyone who may have any information to contact us by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Operation Imperial was launched earlier this year after a 43-year-old man missing for 13 years was found to be living at a site near Newport.