'Anxiety' after religious group raids, says MP
BBCA community is "living in fear" after police raided the home of a religious group as part of a modern slavery investigation, an MP has said.
Seven men and three women were arrested on 29 April when officers raided three properties in Crewe, Cheshire - including Webb House - the base of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
Cheshire Police said allegations of sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery against a member of the group, reported to have taken place in 2023, were made in March.
The 10 arrested have since been released on conditional bail, preventing their return to Webb House, and Crewe MP Connor Naismith has called for people to let police do their job.
"We've got a community in Crewe which is understandably living in fear, with lots of anxiety about the scenes that we saw with the major police operation the other day," the Labour MP told BBC North West Tonight.
"The message I've been trying to send throughout is that we need to let the authorities do the work of delivering justice, where crimes have been committed."
It is understood about 150 people lived at Webb House, and those who were not arrested have been allowed to return after police finished their search of the site on Sunday.
Since they returned, a number of protesters have been seen gathering outside the house at various points over the last few days.
Naismith said he did not want to see public disorder breaking out, which he feared would divert police resources potentially needed elsewhere.
He also voiced his concern over posts on social media from people claiming to be members of the religious group, the wider community and people from outside the area "looking to feed on people's fear and anxiety".
Jenni Jackson, who lives near Webb House, said she had lived in the area for six years and, while the alleged offences were "very concerning", the group had "never been a problem".
"People live there and they keep themselves to themselves," she told BBC North West Tonight.
She added: "I don't think they're a threat at all."
Ch Supt Gareth Wrigley of Cheshire Police previously said the force was not investigating the religious group itself.
He urged people not to speculate and added: "Our investigation solely focuses on the serious allegations which have been reported to us."
Twenty-five people were charged with public order offences during the raids, but were not connected to the investigation.
All of them are due to appear at Crewe Magistrates' Court on various dates in June.
The BBC has attempted to contact the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light for comment.
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