Foreign workers targeted by blackmailing NHS managers

An NHS hospital cleaning organisation is at the centre of a blackmail scandal with three of its managers having been arrested, suspected of targeting foreign colleagues.

South-west London’s Kingston Hospital was the scene of a police raid when officers investigated the offices of ISS Mediclean after several weeks of intelligence gathering after hearing that senior managers at the company were blackmailing junior members of staff. The alleged conspiracy is understood to have preyed upon foreign employees who were told they may face deportation or be reported to immigration authorities.

Kingston CID detectives called on officers from the UK Border Agency as fears grew that some of the staff were working at the facility illegally. It is believed that the initial tip-off came from the Kingston Race and Equalities Council, a community group that aims to tackle racism in the workplace.

A 47-year-old and a 43-year-old man were arrested along with a 28-year-old woman. The trio is currently being questioned by the Metropolitan Police who confirmed that the Kingston constabulary undertook the operation with the goal of arresting up to three people under alleged blackmail offences.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that the trust is thankful for the assistance provided by the UKBA and local police but declined to make further comment. ISS said they were fully co-operational with the inquiries.

ISS also said that they regret any adverse sentiment that may have been generated towards the hospital, patients or staff over the incident. The group also claimed that they have taken immediate steps to address any areas of concern with staff and management at the hospital and that the incident would not impact on the high standard of service delivered at the facility.

Mediclean is part of the larger ISS group which employs some 43,000 staff across Britain at NHS and private hospital sites.