The domestic slaves rescued from London’s richest streets - genuine real live heroines working to help other women

[IwantToRetire]

In the last five years, hundreds of women have been saved from domestic slavery and violent abuse in the UK. More than 220 of those rescues were carried out by a small, fearless band of volunteers.

Channel 4 News has had exclusive access to the group, who’ve made it their mission to free those trapped behind the closed doors of wealthy families, mostly from the Middle East.

Watch at https://www.channel4.com/news/the-domestic-slaves-rescued-from-londons-richest-streets

Truely inspiring.

Brave women yes. I think they have been going for quite a long time. I would like to know more about what happens to them after they have been rescued.

So brave. Those poor women. It's also a good reminder to be vigilant about modern slavery. There are estimated to be around 135,000 slaves today in the UK..which means statistically they are living next door or near many mumsnetters. If you are suspicious report it. Some are children. In city's and farms.

I do some work with rescued modern slaves. There are some support for people depending where they end up. Many can't move back home as so dangerous for them and they live in fear for themselves and their families back home.

It's an invisible scourge isn't it. I saw a special exhibition at the Manchester People's Museum a few years ago with many of the stories of these exploited women. I really couldn't believe it was happening and it gets very little coverage.

Did anyone catch the name of the group? I missed it first time round and second time round thought it wasn't mentioned.

But maybe they cant for safety reasons.

I wondered if it was maybe this group http://www.kalayaan.org.uk/ but they seemed more like an unofficial group of women.

I know its serious, but thought the events at Heathrow were just stunning. Not just brave but quick thinking.

So glad to see a thread about this. I watched the report, but sadly wasn't surprised by any of it.

smilesup, don't feel you have to, but would you be up for explaining more about the issues women face going home?

I've wondered if their families are threatened if women escape here? I know that happens in some sorts of trafficking.

They are called Voice of Domestic Workers.

They are called Voice of Domestic Workers.

Thank you!

I wonder if this is them.

If it is seems that they dont advertise their underground activities.

Hope there are no repercussions for them from the news story.

My mum was involved with such a group 30 or so years ago. She would provide a safe haven for one woman at a time in our home, usually for 6-12 months, until they were ready to move out. By which time each woman would have a job, clothes, belongings, compatriot friends, and security. Mum dealt with the emotional side and the day-to-day practicalities, the rescue organisation dealt with the legalities. Most of the women wanted to stay in England legally.

Thank you to your mum, Pikes. She saved lives.

Wow - that is truely fantastic.

How brilliant of her and the group itself.

Were you still living at home at the time? If so must have made an impression.

What an inspiration.

They have a Facebook group

If they didn't want to stay they'll buy a ticket to fly home, if no passport, leave report to police, get passport and fly home or leave the employer when in holiday to their home country.

The tend to only leave if they're in contact with an organisation that will help them stay in the UK. They'll never leave until they have a British passport.

Why would they want to stay in England?

Because they had left their home countries to work and to send money home. They still needed to do so.

Also, they came from very traditionalist, conservative societies. If they had been sexually abused they were at risk of being shunned there if that was revealed. They needed to be ready to return as successful women, because they probably could not be honest about what had been done to them and why they were returning.

Thanks for this.

I had never heard of a domestic worker visa. Having gone and looked at it on gouv.uk it seems obvious to me that it is going to be used by people from countries where modern slavery is common, accepted and made feasible via the sponsorship system. So mainly middle eastern countries.

This visa is making it easy and legal for people who have domestic slaves to bring them to the UK.

If I can work that out then surely the government department involved in issuing these visas can too??

In fact it seems they have as at the end of the contents there is a section called "If you're a victim of of modern slavery or human trafficking"

www.gov.uk/overseas-domestic-worker-visa/victim-slavery-human-trafficking

Amazing work by those brave women to rescue other women. I fear that whilst this visa system remains and whilst rich middle easterns are allowed to abuse it, the situation won't improve.

Got here after seeing this Mumsnet guest post about this, have you read it? https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/guest_posts/5033105-guest-post?reply=134240397. Will read thread now and watch videos. How horrific.