Three women have been rescued from a London home where they were allegedly held as slaves for more than 30 years. According to ABC News , the women had been held against their will , and none seem to be related.
According to BBC News , a Malaysian woman, 69, an Irish woman, 57, and a British woman, 30, were all rescued from the house and police have arrested a 67-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman as a result of the ongoing investigation.
Police told The Independent that they were contacted in October by the Freedom Charity , a group that works to protect the human rights of those at risk of modern slavery. “They had received a call from a woman stating she had been held against her will in a house in London for more than 30 years.” Aneeta Prem, the founder of Freedom Charity, told reporters:
“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. They were able to leave the property, but it was done in such a way… it was a very, very excellent way it happened.”
Prem continued on to tell The Independent that the two people who have been arrested by police were considered the “heads of the family,” and that the women were “absolutely terrified” of them. According to ABC News , Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland of the Human Trafficking Unit said that they “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.” Hyland continued on to say the following to The Independent :
“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.”
The names and identities of all those involved in this case have not yet been released to the public. Stay with The Inquisitr as we keep you up to date on the case as more information becomes available.
[Image via Shutterstock/ val lawless ]
