This is not an investigation into the religion, this is an investigation into serious allegations
In the quiet streets of Crewe on a late April morning, more than 500 officers descended on three addresses connected to a small religious community, arresting nine people on suspicion of modern slavery, forced marriage, and sexual offences against one of their own members. The investigation, rooted in allegations from 2023, draws a careful line between examining criminal conduct and scrutinising faith itself — a distinction authorities have been deliberate to preserve. At its centre is a single woman whose reported suffering set this vast machinery of justice in motion, a reminder that the largest operations often begin with one person's story.
- A coordinated dawn operation involving over 500 officers swept through Crewe, signalling the gravity of allegations that had been building since reports emerged just weeks before.
- Nine people of six different nationalities now face suspicion of crimes ranging from human trafficking and forced marriage to rape and sexual assault — all allegedly committed within a community of roughly 150 members.
- Residents connected to the group were displaced from their homes, forcing local authorities to scramble safeguarding support while roads were closed and police vehicles held the neighbourhood.
- Authorities have been careful to separate the investigation from any judgement of religious belief, wary of the wider anxieties such a large-scale raid can ignite in surrounding communities.
- Police have pledged a sustained presence in the area — both to gather evidence and to reassure a public left unsettled — while appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
On a Wednesday morning in late April, more than 500 police officers moved simultaneously on three addresses in Crewe, targeting a religious community known as the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light — a group of around 150 members with roots in Shia Islam. By the end of the day, nine people had been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery, forced marriage, sexual assault, and rape.
The investigation began only weeks earlier, following reports of alleged offences dating to 2023 involving one female member of the group. Those arrested spanned six nationalities — including Mexican, Italian, American, Spanish, Swedish, and Egyptian nationals — and faced a range of charges from human trafficking to rape. A further 13 people were detained on separate public order matters.
The raids extended across properties on Nantwich Road and a building known as Webb House, with roads near Queens Park closed and emergency vehicles gathered at local playing fields. The scale of the operation was striking, though Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley was deliberate in his framing: the investigation targets alleged criminal conduct, not religious belief. Authorities also took care to distinguish the group from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a separate and unrelated organisation.
The operation left residents displaced from group-owned properties, prompting Cheshire East Council to step in with support. Local MP Connor Naismith acknowledged the unease the raids would naturally stir and called for a thorough and swift investigation. Police confirmed a continued significant presence in the area — both to search for evidence and to offer reassurance — and appealed to anyone with relevant information to come forward.
On a Wednesday morning in late April, more than 500 police officers moved simultaneously across three addresses in Crewe. The operation, which began around 8:50 a.m., targeted a religious group called the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light—a community founded at the turn of the century by followers of Shia Islam that had grown to roughly 150 members. By day's end, nine people had been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery, forced marriage, sexual assault, and rape.
The investigation had begun just weeks earlier, when police received reports of allegations dating back to 2023. According to Cheshire Police, the offences centered on one woman who was a member of the group at the time they occurred. The nine arrested included a 30-year-old Mexican man suspected of human trafficking and forced marriage; a 44-year-old Italian woman suspected of modern slavery and sexual assault; two American men in their early forties, one facing sexual assault charges and the other facing modern slavery, sexual assault, and forced marriage allegations; a 35-year-old Spanish man suspected of rape, sexual assault, assault, and forced marriage; a 39-year-old Swedish woman suspected of modern slavery and sexual assault; a 35-year-old Egyptian man suspected of modern slavery and sexual assault; a 43-year-old American woman suspected of modern slavery and sexual assault; and a second 30-year-old Mexican man also suspected of modern slavery and sexual assault. An additional 13 people were arrested on public order charges unrelated to the main investigation.
The raids unfolded across multiple locations, including properties on Nantwich Road and a building known as Webb House. Police vehicles and ambulances gathered at King George V playing fields while officers secured the sites. Roads in the Victoria Avenue area near Queens Park were closed to traffic. The scale of the operation reflected the seriousness with which authorities approached the allegations, though police were careful to distinguish between investigating criminal conduct and investigating the religion itself. Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley stated that while those arrested were members of the group, the investigation targeted alleged crimes, not religious belief or practice.
The group itself occupies an unusual position within Britain's religious landscape. Mainstream Muslim organizations have long distanced themselves from Arpol, and it should not be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—a separate Sunni-rooted organization with deep roots on the Asian subcontinent and significant presence across the UK. The distinction matters because it clarifies that this investigation concerns a specific community, not a broader faith tradition.
The operation displaced residents from properties owned by the group, prompting Cheshire East Council to step in. A council spokesperson confirmed their involvement, stating that ensuring the safety and support of those displaced was their priority. Police indicated they were working with local authorities to establish appropriate safeguarding measures for affected residents. Connor Naismith, the Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, acknowledged the concern the raids would naturally provoke among nearby residents and called for thorough and prompt investigation to restore calm to the community.
Police emphasized that there was no threat to the wider public and announced plans for a sustained and significant police presence in the area. This presence would serve dual purposes: conducting searches for evidence and providing reassurance to local residents. Wrigley urged anyone with concerns to speak with officers and appealed for information that might assist the investigation. The force reiterated its commitment to treating all reports of sexual assault seriously and to working closely with partner agencies to support group members during the investigation.
Citas Notables
While those arrested are members of the group, I want to make clear that this is not an investigation into the religion, this is an investigation into the serious allegations which have been reported to us.— Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley, Cheshire Police
Our priority is to ensure that those people who have been displaced are safe and supported.— Cheshire East Council spokesperson
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What made police move on this group at this particular moment, after allegations from 2023?
The reports came in last month—so March, roughly. That's what triggered the investigation. Sometimes these things take time to surface, especially in closed communities where people may fear speaking out.
Why did it take 500 officers? That's an enormous deployment.
Three simultaneous raids across different properties. You need that scale to prevent evidence being moved or destroyed, and to secure multiple locations at once. It also sends a message about how seriously the force is treating the allegations.
The group has 150 members. Does that mean the other 141 are under suspicion too?
No. The allegations center on one woman. The nine arrested are accused of offences against her. The others are members of the community, but they're not the focus of this investigation.
Why was it important for police to say this isn't about investigating the religion?
Because religious groups can become targets for suspicion or backlash when criminal allegations emerge. Police wanted to be clear: we're investigating crimes, not faith. It protects the innocent members and keeps the focus where it belongs—on the alleged conduct.
What happens to the people displaced from the group's properties?
The council is involved now, providing support and safeguarding. They've made that their priority. It's a vulnerable situation—people losing their homes as their community faces a criminal investigation.