General Chat

Women 'held as slaves for 30 years'
Three women have been "rescued" from a house in south London as police investigate claims they were held as slaves for about 30 years.

Police arrested two suspects, a 67-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman.

Last month officers were contacted by Freedom Charity after it received a call from a woman saying she had been held against her will for decades.

A Malaysian woman, 69, an Irish woman, 57, and a British woman, 30, were all rescued from the house, police said.

The women, who are said to be "highly traumatised", are now in safe accommodation.

'Absolutely terrified'
Det Insp Kevin Hyland, from the Metropolitan Police's Human Trafficking Unit, said: "We applaud the actions of Freedom Charity and are working in partnership to support these victims who appear to have been held for over 30 years.

"We have launched an extensive investigation to establish the facts surrounding these very serious allegations.

"A television documentary on forced marriages relating to the work of Freedom Charity was the catalyst that prompted one of the victims to call for help and led to their rescue."

Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom Charity, told Sky News the alleged victims were able to walk out of the house after receiving help from the charity.

She said: "We started in-depth to talks to them when they could. It had to be pre-arranged. They gave us set times when they were able to speak to us.

"It was planned that they would be able to walk out of the property. The police were on standby."

The two people who were arrested were considered the "heads of the family", Ms Prem said, adding that the rescued women felt they were in "massive danger" and were "absolutely terrified".

Wow! the mind boggles at the trauma they have gone through? Thank goodness they have at least been freed. The world is not a nice place :-(

I have just seen this story .
Worst of all is that it is understood the 30yr old woman has been held captive her whole life.
It's incomprehensible that anyone should be forced to live in fear.

Dreadful isn't it :-(

This must be going on far more than we imagine. I hope those who kept these poor people against there will, spend the rest of there lives in the same position

It is sad and amazing that this still happens, but this is not an isolated case in the UK.
Trafficking is big business to some, often it is illegals or young foreign people, but there is still those who are subjected to slave abuse from families in the UK.

How awful the poor women so much of their lives have been taken from them. I hope they will get the help and support they need, and manage to enjoy the rest of their lives.

Well done to the 'Freedom Charity' for the sensitive handling of these three desperate women that they were able to walk out of their 'prison' without the trauma of having the Police Force intervening.

Tragic! It will be so hard for them all to integrate into today's society and especially for the younger woman who presumably has had no schooling and must be terrified of everything around her. Thank heavens they were able to watch tv and find that link to help. I wonder why they didn't call the police before now if they had access to a phone.

Let's hope with the right help they can enjoy the rest of their lives now in peace and comfort, without any fear. I twill take some time for them to feel at ease in any way.


Lizx