A slavery order has been issued against a hand car wash owner in Thanet.

Genc Gjocaj, who runs The Palm Bay Car Wash in Margate, was found to be avoiding tax and not paying workers.

Investigators from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) failed to find protective equipment, contracts or payslips for the workers when they visited the Northdown Road business.

There was also no evidence of any record keeping by Gjocaj in relation to tax and National Insurance, and the hours worked by his employees.

As a result, the 50-year-old is now the subject of the first Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO) to be issued in Kent.

The London resident, who lives in Elmwood Court, Battersea Park Road, has been ordered not to recruit people with no legal status in the UK.

He must not employ anyone who does not have a valid National Insurance number.

The order also compels him to keep full written records of all employees and their employment. These must be provided to officers upon request.

Gjocaj must pay his workers the national minimum wage and provide wage slips and contracts to them in their own language.

He must allow officers entry during business hours to inspect conditions and speak to the workers, and to inform the GLAA in writing of any changes in ownership of this car wash or any other owned or controlled by him.

The final restrictions placed on Gjocaj force him to register with Companies House and pay business rates to the local authority. This means he must pay tax and National Insurance and record the hours worked by his employees accurately.

GLAA senior investigating officer Jen Baines said: “There are around 5,000 hand car washes in the UK and while we understand that many operate legally, unfortunately there still remain issues with others.

“The problems at hand car washes can be wide-ranging. In addition to vulnerable workers being exploited for their labour, we often see failings around payment of the National Minimum Wage, environmental breaches, and health and safety legislation being disregarded.

“This is the first STRO we have secured in Kent and we will not hesitate to take action with our partners if we find that any of the restrictions are being breached.”

To secure the order, the GLAA worked alongside Kent Police.

Margate Magistrates’ Court approved the application for the interim order at a hearing on Wednesday.

Gjocaj must follow all the restrictions within the STRO, which is in place until October.

PC Glenn Castle said: “Victims of modern slavery are often hidden in plain sight.

"They may not realise they are being exploited, and very often they will not know the working conditions they are entitled to or where to seek help if things are not right.

“As part of the work of Thanet’s Community Policing Team and the Thanet Multi-Agency Task Force, we aim to safeguard vulnerable people who might be at risk of forced labour by criminals and we will regularly pay visits to businesses in the district to review practices and offer support to staff.

"We check they are being paid properly, that working conditions are safe as well as other factors, such as employers adhering to correct and legal practices.

“Through joint working with GLAA, we will continue to make sure people are safe at work.”