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

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 rescued from the house on 25 October.

A 67-year-old man and woman were held in Lambeth and bailed until January.

Delayed arrest

The women, who are said to be "highly traumatised", were found following delicate phone conversations between the charity and the 57-year-old, who had secretly gained access to a phone.

There followed a number of phone conversations over a week, and the three woman eventually left the property when the owners of the house were not around, the charity said.

They were met by police and representatives from the group, and were then moved to a safe location.

The 30-year-old had spent her whole life in captivity. Officers are trying to establish whether she was born in the house.

The issue of domestic servitude has risen up the political agenda in recent months - this case is certain to ensure that it stays there.

Police said the relationship between the women was being investigated.

Det Insp Kevin Hyland, from the Metropolitan Police`s Human Trafficking Unit, said: "We have seen some cases when people have been held for 10 years, but we have never seen anything of this magnitude before."

He added that the women had controlled lives and spent most of it indoors, but they had some freedom.

Mr Hyland said: "The women were released as soon as possible.

"There was a delay in the arrest. This was down to the fact that we had to work very carefully with these people who were highly traumatised and it was very difficult to establish the facts.

"The last thing we wanted to do was increase that trauma."

Police said the facts behind the situation were being slowly established as specialist workers were assisting the women. Officers said there was no evidence of sexual abuse.

Aneeta Prem, Freedom Charity: "We`ve ensured they`re in a place of safety"

"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," Mr Hyland said.

Source: BBC
BDST:  1010 HRS, NOV 22, 2013
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