Cops Raid 'Slave' Camp, Free Men Held 15 Years

Four men and a woman were arrested yesterday for holding 24 men as slaves in east England, some for as long as 15 years, reports the BBC. The victims—English, Polish, and Romanian men—were likely recruited from soup kitchens and welfare offices and promised jobs that paid around $125 per day. "But when they get here, their hair is cut off them, they're kept in in some cases [in] horseboxes, dog kennels, and old caravans, made to work for no money, given very, very small amounts of food," said a police spokesman.

Though the victims were told that if they attempted to leave they would be beaten, over the years many did escape, often making complaints to authorities. "When we looked back since 2008 we were aware of 28 people who had made similar accusations," says the rep. More than 200 police officers participated in the raid on the slave camp, where drugs and weapons were found, reports the Telegraph. The freed men were taken to a medical center for treatment. (More England stories.)