Peters & Peters

ESG Enforcement Tracker

Charting the rise of criminal and regulatory enforcement

Slavery and trafficking risk order granted in ongoing investigation into Crewe religious group

Date:
11 May 2026
Relevant legislation/regulation:
Modern Slavery Act 2015
Jurisdiction:
United Kingdom
Status:
Ongoing
Regulator/enforcement authority:
Police (Cheshire Constabulary)
ESG Category:
Social
Defendant(s)/subjects(s):
Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

Key Facts:

On 11 May 2026, Chester Magistrates’ Court approved an interim Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO) over the eleventh man to be arrested over serious offences involving members of a Crewe religious group.  It is the sixth order Cheshire Constabulary has successfully sought in its investigation of allegations relating to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light religious group.

On 29 April 2026, police conducted warrants at three addresses in Crewe, following reports of sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery dating back to 2023.  The allegations relate to one woman who was a member of the group at that time and police have noted that the ongoing investigation is not an investigation into the religion itself.

This latest STRO relates to a 48-year-old British national, Sajid Khokhar, who was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking offences on 7 May and is now on conditional bail.  Among other restrictions in the STRO, Khokhar may not enter Crewe, contact the victim or have any unsupervised contact with any children aged under 18 without the consent of the child’s parent or guardian and with the express approval of Social Services for the area.

The investigation continues. Khokhar is due back in court on 11 September.

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