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Freedom charity deluged with calls after slavery case Freedom charity deluged with calls after 'slavery' case
(about 1 hour 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 alleged slavery in London has been inundated with calls for help from other victims.
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.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.
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.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.
The couple had previously been arrested in the 1970s, according to Scotland Yard.The couple had previously been arrested in the 1970s, according to Scotland Yard.
Police say the three women were not trafficked, and they are not looking for any more suspects or victims.Police say the three women were not trafficked, and they are not looking for any more suspects or victims.
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."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. She said the three women who were rescued from a house in Lambeth, south London, last month 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 – the 69-year-old Malaysian – was in this country and joined the suspects at their home more than 30 years ago. The 57-year-old Irish woman was also allegedly held by the suspects, a 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, 30, may have been born in the house and allegedly had no contact with the outside world.
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. Met detectives are trying to discover the "invisible handcuffs" which held three women inside a house for so long.
She said: "They're quite traumatised … but they're very relieved to be out. Commander Steve Rodhouse said the women's case was like nothing the police has come across before.
"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." "We are trying to find out what were the invisible handcuffs that were used to exert such control over these women. We are uncovering a complicated and disturbing picture of emotional control over many years, brainwashing is the term you could use."
The woman also received beatings, said Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland, head of the inquiry.
Police delayed the arrest so they could work sensitively with the victims to establish the facts of the case.
It emerged that the two suspects had been arrested by the force in the 1970s.
Rodhouse refused to reveal whether the couple have a criminal record.
"The people at the heart of this investigation probably have come into contact with public services including our own. We need to examine this more fully," he said.
The police are not investigating the women being trafficked. But the suspects are believed to have committed immigration offences.
Police and campaigners said the 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.
"They're quite traumatised … but they're very relieved to be out."
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: "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. After a "traumatic and very difficult" first call to Freedom staff, Prem said she arranged a single point of contact for the women and began "secret negotiations" to bring them out.
"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.
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. Hyland said 55 bags of evidence were removed from the house.
Investigating officers said they had "never seen anything of this magnitude before" but there was no evidence to suggest anything of a sexual nature. They have been questioned over false imprisonment, domestic servitude and offences against the person. Their passports have been seized and they have bail conditions that prevent them returning to the address where the women were held.
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