POLICE have revealed they found up to 40 people crammed into a three-bedroom terraced home in Lye during a swoop as part of efforts to crack down on human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Officers from West Midlands Police and the National Crime Agency executed search warrants on two addresses near Lye High Street in an early morning raid which was carried out after intelligence suggested a group of eastern European nationals may have been being abused for forced labour.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said 50 Romanians were taken to a reception area where they were offered food and clothing; among them eight women and six children - the youngest of which was 18-months-old.

Dudley Police Sergeant Marc Butler, who ran the operation, said: "In one three-bed property we found 40 people - some were sleeping in the kitchen, some in the bathroom.

"There were exposed wires and no smoke alarms; our fire colleagues said it was a disaster waiting to happen so a prohibition notice has been served that effectively closes it down until it’s made safe."

A 23-year-old man was spoken to at the scene by investigators from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority on suspicion of siphoning off wages and work documentation linking the people to a farm in Worcestershire was also seized for further enquiries.

But police say no slavery offences were discovered and no arrests were made.

The women and children have since been rehoused by but the men reportedly declined offers of support.

Officers were assisted in the raid, which happened last month, by the Red Cross, anti slavery charity Hope for Justice, interpreters and housing officials.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Chisholm, who leads the force’s response to tackling traffickers, said most of the cases dealt with by West Midlands Police involve "eastern European men subjected to forced labour in construction or agriculture".

He added: "We have a steady stream of people turning up at police stations reporting to have escaped slave-masters or been dumped in the street when work dries up.

"Invariably they will have been approached in their home country with offers of attractive salaries working in the UK… agreements are usually struck to sacrifice part of their wages in return for accommodation, transport and living expenses.

"On the face of it the deal sounds fair − but on arrival they are sent to work, paid far less than promised, charged exorbitant rents, and threatened with violence if they protest or try to leave."

He said a recurring challenge for officers "is that people often don’t consider themselves as victims, may be earning decent cash sums, and are reluctant to speak out".

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 now makes slavery a specific offence and people traffickers now face life jail sentences.

Large firms, meanwhile, will soon have to show they are working to ensure their business and supply chains are free from slavery.

To report suspicions of forced labour or human trafficking call West Midlands Police in confidence on the 101 number.