Three possible trafficking victims were identified as police carried out an operation targeting modern slavery.

More than 80 vehicles were stopped at a service station on the M1 on Saturday which involved 100 officers from the Met Police and Hertfordshire.

The six-hour operation, held at London Gateway services, targeted vehicles travelling between London and Hertfordshire.

A range of checks were carried out throughout the day on people in the cars to check if they may be linked to trafficking or slavery.

In total, 83 vehicles were stopped and 67 people were spoken to about modern slavery and human trafficking.

Three potential victims were identified and they are now being supported by the Red Cross.

Four arrests were made during the day, including for theft, possession of a knife, drug driving, and theft of a motor vehicle.

Five uninsured vehicles were taken off the road and seized as well as others with mechanical defects.

Police officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit and City of London Police also supported the operation as well as representatives from the Home Office Immigration Service, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Red Cross, Hertfordshire Trading Standards, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hertsmere Borough Council and the Environment Agency.

David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said: “Tackling modern slavery requires a co-ordinated and united approach and this operation shows how seriously this crime is being taken in Hertfordshire. I’m particularly pleased to see our special constables playing such an important role in this operation.

“When the Hertfordshire Modern Slavery Partnership was set up last year (May 2017), the objective was to increase partnership working to set a strategy which had real impact. This is clearly evidence of that.”

The public can help by looking out for people who appear to be controlled by others, information is available online at www.herts.police.uk/modernslavery.