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Freedom charity deluged with calls after slavery case Freedom charity deluged with calls after slavery case
(35 minutes later)
The charity at the centre of the rescue of three women from 30 years of domestic slavery in London has been inundated with calls for help from other victims.The charity at the centre of the rescue of three women from 30 years of domestic slavery in London has been inundated with calls for help from other victims.
Aneeta Prem, founder of the Freedom Charity, said her helpline has received calls from individuals saying they are being held in servitude since news broke of the women's case. Aneeta Prem, founder of the Freedom Charity, said her helpline had received calls from individuals saying they were being held in servitude since news broke of the women's case.
She said: "This has to be a story of hope. A number of calls are coming through from people who have seen the media coverage and want to tell us they are in the same situation." Police said a couple bailed on Thursday had been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences as well as in connection with the investigation into slavery and domestic servitude.
Prem said the three women who were rescued from a house in south London were being given specialist care. The couple had previously been arrested in the 1970s, according to Scotland Yard.
She said they have been seen by doctors and psychologists and are being continually supported. "They are taking things very slowly," she said. Police say the three women were not trafficked, and they are not looking for any more suspects or victims.
It is understood the police are not investigating trafficking offences in relation to the case. Prem said of the case: "This has to be a story of hope. A number of calls are coming through from people who have seen the media coverage and want to tell us they are in the same situation."
She said the three women who were rescued from a house in south London were being given specialist care, had been seen by doctors and psychologists and were being continually supported. "They are taking things very slowly," she said.
The eldest woman held – the 69-year-old Malaysian – was in this country and joined the suspects at their home more than 30 years ago. The Irish captive also joined the suspects, an Asian couple both aged 67, the Guardian understands.The eldest woman held – the 69-year-old Malaysian – was in this country and joined the suspects at their home more than 30 years ago. The Irish captive also joined the suspects, an Asian couple both aged 67, the Guardian understands.
The youngest woman, aged 30, was born in the house and had no contact with the outside world. The three "traumatised" women were freed from the house in the London borough of Lambeth last month.The youngest woman, aged 30, was born in the house and had no contact with the outside world. The three "traumatised" women were freed from the house in the London borough of Lambeth last month.
A couple, who have not been named, were released on bail after being arrested on Thursday on suspicion of being involved in forced labour and domestic servitude.
Police and campaigners said the horrifying case highlighted a growing problem of slavery in Britain. Prem told ITV's Daybreak programme on Friday that she had met the three women on Thursday.Police and campaigners said the horrifying case highlighted a growing problem of slavery in Britain. Prem told ITV's Daybreak programme on Friday that she had met the three women on Thursday.
She said: "They're quite traumatised … but they're very relieved to be out.She said: "They're quite traumatised … but they're very relieved to be out.
"When I met them, it was a very humbling experience. They all threw their arms around me, and apart from crying enormously, they thanked the charity for the work Freedom had done in saving their lives.""When I met them, it was a very humbling experience. They all threw their arms around me, and apart from crying enormously, they thanked the charity for the work Freedom had done in saving their lives."
The women were rescued after the Irish woman saw Prem on a TV documentary and contacted the charity for help. Prem said it would be "a very long journey" to rehabilitate the women.The women were rescued after the Irish woman saw Prem on a TV documentary and contacted the charity for help. Prem said it would be "a very long journey" to rehabilitate the women.
She said: "If you have spent your entire life in captivity and know nothing different, then even the smallest freedoms, the smallest things, you have no knowledge of.She said: "If you have spent your entire life in captivity and know nothing different, then even the smallest freedoms, the smallest things, you have no knowledge of.
"It's going to be a difficult process. Bear in mind these ladies have left with absolutely nothing at all. The charity is going to have to try to help and support them through this difficult journey.""It's going to be a difficult process. Bear in mind these ladies have left with absolutely nothing at all. The charity is going to have to try to help and support them through this difficult journey."
The Irish woman contacted Freedom on 18 October to say she had been held against her will for more than 30 years, and that two others were held with her. She and the British woman met charity workers and police on 25 October before returning to the address and rescuing the Malaysian woman.The Irish woman contacted Freedom on 18 October to say she had been held against her will for more than 30 years, and that two others were held with her. She and the British woman met charity workers and police on 25 October before returning to the address and rescuing the Malaysian woman.
Prem said: "The ladies had seen me on various news channels throughout a period of the summer when we were doing a campaign about forced marriages and young girls going missing.Prem said: "The ladies had seen me on various news channels throughout a period of the summer when we were doing a campaign about forced marriages and young girls going missing.
"They said they felt they could trust me because they had seen me on the TV.""They said they felt they could trust me because they had seen me on the TV."
After a "traumatic and very difficult" first call to Freedom staff, Prem arranged a single point of contact for the women and began "secret negotiations" to bring them out.After a "traumatic and very difficult" first call to Freedom staff, Prem arranged a single point of contact for the women and began "secret negotiations" to bring them out.
She said: "We did it in a very slow way to gain their trust, because after 30 years of people being held in very difficult circumstances, one of the things we didn't want to do was to add any more trauma."She said: "We did it in a very slow way to gain their trust, because after 30 years of people being held in very difficult circumstances, one of the things we didn't want to do was to add any more trauma."
Police delayed the arrest so they could work sensitively with the victims to establish the facts of the case.Police delayed the arrest so they could work sensitively with the victims to establish the facts of the case.
Investigating officers said they had "never seen anything of this magnitude before" but there was no evidence to suggest anything of a sexual nature.Investigating officers said they had "never seen anything of this magnitude before" but there was no evidence to suggest anything of a sexual nature.
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