Late last year, three people were convicted of trafficking girls from Vietnam and forcing them to work in nail bars across England. The conviction was described as the first successful UK prosecution involving minors under new legislation.
Sentenced on 2 January, Viet Nguyen, 29, and Thu Nguyen, 48, were found guilty of arranging the transport of people with a view to exploitation and were jailed for four and five years respectively at Stafford Crown Court. Giang Tran, 23, received a two-year suspended sentence. All three defendants were convicted of requiring others to perform forced or compulsory labour.
The investigation began when police officers visited Nail Bar Deluxe in February 2016. They found two teenage girls, aged 17 and 18, working there for 60 hours a week. One was being paid about £30 a month while the second was not paid. They were staying at the four-bedroom home of the owner. One lived in a tiny room, while the other slept on a mattress in the attic. The girls had come to the UK in search of a better life, escaping poverty in Vietnam.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
