Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Neighbours saw slavery case women walking near flats 'every day'

Police say they’re working to establish how the “collective” came to an end and how the women ended up continuing to live with the suspects.

RESIDENTS IN FLATS near the south London home where three women — including a 57-year-old from Ireland — were allegedly held captive for thirty years have said they often saw the women walking outside and even talking to police.

One resident of Peckford Place flats in Brixton told Channel 4 News he saw the women outside in the area “every day” and had often seen them speaking with officers.

“That’s why I don’t know how they couldn’t go to the police. They even talked to the police. I’ve actually seen them talk to the police. That’s why it’s crazy to me.

The neighbour said that though the women spoke to police officers, they didn’t “talk to people”.

Another resident spoke of how he had once called to the door of the home, and said that all five residents had come to the door at once.

“There was five people at the door basically, and, it was just weird… like they wanted to say something but they didn’t.”

Officers believe two of the three women victims met the male suspect in London “through a shared political ideology” and that they lived together in “a collective”.

Efforts are now under way to establish how that collective came to an end and how the women ended up continuing to live with the suspects.

Met Police Commander Steve Rodhouse spoke of “invisible handcuffs” that were used to control the women, and said they had built up a “disturbing picture of emotional control over many years”.

image

Officers stand outside the flats yesterday [Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images]

Along with the Irish woman, a 69-year-old Malaysian and a 30-year-old British woman were also rescued on 25 October, one week after first making secret telephone contact with a charity.

The two suspects in the case, a man and woman, have been released on bail.  It was confirmed yesterday that they are originally from India and Tanzania and came to Britain in the 1960s.

Residents at Peckford Place said the flats had been built in 2005, meaning the women and the suspects must have moved there in the course of their alleged imprisonment.

Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area this weekend.

Rodhouse said police were still working “to gain the trust and confidence of the highly traumatized victims” and said the process would take time.

Read: Enslaved women traumatised but doing ‘remarkably well’ >

More: Irish Embassy in London look to establish details behind woman freed from slavery >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
17 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Smith
    Favourite David Smith
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 2:43 PM

    All is not what it seems here. Bizarre.

    358
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Killjoy The Second
    Favourite Killjoy The Second
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 4:22 PM

    One of my father’s friends worked for a while as a tv licence inspector (yeah I know); and one day he called on a house and the woman came out to him and spoke through the letterbox to him. When he asked her to open the door she said she couldn’t, her husband locked all the ways in and out of the house when he wen’t to work. Said it was the scariest thing he’s ever seen.

    204
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daddy De La Noche
    Favourite Daddy De La Noche
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 4:49 PM

    That’s really bad, was he unable to do anything about it?

    88
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Killjoy The Second
    Favourite Killjoy The Second
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 5:01 PM

    He told the Gardai but really couldn’t do much else.

    110
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antonov Merinov
    Favourite Antonov Merinov
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 2:44 PM

    I had to read this article twice to be able to comprehend what has happened.
    Have these unfortunate victims been brainwashed to extremes to go undetected by the public and even the police.
    The mind boggles.

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rachael Ball
    Favourite Rachael Ball
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 4:25 PM

    It might help to think in terms of how children who are being abused are still coming in contact with people who could help them, whether it is their parents or teachers or police, but they don’t say anything because they are too scared. It isn’t just kids who can be affected this way. We also see similar things with people who die by suicide, in that people wonder why they never said something or victims of dometic violence who refuse to press charges even when the cops have been called by someone else. It is actually very common that people find some things almost impossible to say out loud, even to themselves.

    160
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron Burns
    Favourite Aaron Burns
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 2:45 PM

    This is a wierd one…..

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Stephen Hendy
    Favourite Tim Stephen Hendy
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 3:24 PM

    With all the details that have emerged so far.. has any actual crime been committed?

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Erin Smith
    Favourite Erin Smith
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 5:22 PM

    I think this is why they were released on bail. It seems in the eyes of the law they stayed there of their own accord. Very possible there will be no real charges here.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fox Trot
    Favourite Fox Trot
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 4:08 PM

    This gets stranger and stranger every day.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Featherstone
    Favourite Joan Featherstone
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 3:23 PM

    I think it’s weird, not sure it’s what it seems?

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Zombies
    Favourite Robert Zombies
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 3:27 PM

    It’s not weird. Those poor women were brainwashed and threatened with physical abuse if they stepped out of line.

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Doey Walsh
    Favourite Doey Walsh
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 6:17 PM

    To what end?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Ryan
    Favourite Noel Ryan
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 2:55 PM

    why do you have a part ‘about the author’ … and there is nothing about the author?? except a name?? I use an iPad to read this and am fairly sure I click on whats available etc.

    Anyway …real stuff … a month out from the initial rescue and there is nothing to report and the alleged suspects are on bail … man is this going to be complex or what??

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann Cobblepot
    Favourite Ann Cobblepot
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 3:39 PM

    Maybe this is just a reality show, there’s got to be a catch somewhere.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aunty Simmonite
    Favourite Aunty Simmonite
    Report
    Nov 24th 2013, 5:42 PM

    Someone after a few bob for their story?

    The 30-year-old became infatuated with neighbour Marius Feneck, 26, and is thought to have secretly sent more than 500 letters to him over a period of seven years, some scented and with kisses on them.

    In one letter, published in the Daily Express, the woman repeatedly pleads with Feneck not to confront her alleged enslavers. ”

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10470896/Slaves-love-letter-outlines-torment-by-relatives-who-held-her-captive.html

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Next upNext up:
      News in 60 seconds