4 members of the travelling community are arrested as 8 ‘slaves’ believed to be held captive for many years are found on a halting site in Bedfordshire, UK.
The men aged between 17 -46 were kept in ” cramped and filthy ” conditions. Their captives are said to be of Irish extraction.
Two men and two women were arrested yesterday as a result of these so-called ‘modern slaves’. The men were used to work for the travellers laying tarmac. The freed men are now receiving physical and mental medical assistance.
Chief Inspector Tania Coulson said: “The men we found at the plot were in a poor state of physical health and the conditions they were living in were cramped and filthy.”
“We believe that some of the victims had been living and working there in a state of virtual
slavery, some for just a few days/weeks and others for many years.”
“The offences being investigated are extremely serious. We understand that some people may have information about what has been happening, but have been too scared to come forward and report it”.