women rescued from decades of slavery

Daily mail reported that:Three women allegedly held as slaves - one for more than 30 years - have been 'rescued' from a house in south London, Scotland Yard has revealed today.

Two suspects, a man and woman both aged 67 described as 'heads of the family', have been arrested in the capital.

Inside their 'ordinary house on an ordinary street' three women - a 69-year-old Malaysian woman, a 57-year-old Irish woman and a 30-year-old British woman - were rescued.

Scotland Yard said they made the discovery after a charity received a 'call for help' from one of the alleged captives last month.
She told them she had been held against her will for more than three decades.
Freedom Charity, which aims to advise and support victims of forced marriages or honour-based violence, then told police about the call received following a television documentary on forced marriages.
Aneeta Prem, Freedom Charity founder, said the alleged victims - who are believed to have suffered physical and mental harm - were able to walk out of the property after extensive calls with the charity.
'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,' she told Sky News.

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

Ms Prem said the two people arrested were considered the 'heads of the family', and that the women were 'absolutely terrified' of them.

She added: 'They felt they were in massive danger.

'I don't believe the neighbours knew anything about it at all. It was just an ordinary house in an ordinary street.

‘They did have rooms that they could use but they were really restricted about what they could do and could never leave the front door.

‘They are together in a place of safety and are doing very well despite what has happened to them.

‘When we had found out that they came out of that house there were huge cheers here that they were safe. We hope they can have happy lives.

‘It is absolutely unbelievable that people can ever find themselves in this position. It is an amazing story.

Asked about what help the women will be given, the charity founder said: 'They are going to be afforded all the help and support that can be.

'I'm so grateful they saw the news.

'Now they will try to re-build their lives.'

All three, who police described as 'highly traumatised', are together in a secret location.

Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland, from the Met'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.'

Founded in 2010 by campaigner Aneeta Prem and backed by Prince Charles, Freedom Charity aims to prevent forced marriages and dishonour-based violence.

The charity works with schools to raise awareness of forced marriage, and provides a helpline, manned 24 hours a day where victims can seek help and advice.

Freedom also works with the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, police forces and the National Council of Women as well other organisations to enable friends of those who may be facing a forced marriage to help and support potential victims.