Those sleeping rough on streets throughout the UK have been targeted by gangs forcing them to work for free in what amounts to slavery, according to a statement released by Thames Reach which is one of the largest charities for the homeless. The charity states that there are growing reports of homeless people being targeted in big cities such as Birmingham, London, Southampton, Dover, Manchester, Luton and Leicester.
Last weekend police raided a travellers’ location in Bedfordshire where four men and one woman were arrested on grounds of suspicion of slavery. In this group the people being enslaved were for the most part English, but in other areas of the country the charges involve Eastern Europeans who have been targeted. Some of the people who claim to have been enslaved state that they were lured to the UK by these gangs under false pretences.
According to Mike Nicholas who is a spokesperson for Thames Reach, there are growing numbers of homeless mostly from Eastern and Central European countries who claim to have been held against their will, beaten and forced to work without being paid. At some point they were able to escape and are now living rough on the streets of big cities, primarily London. Some claim to have had their identity stolen along with any money they arrived with and credit cards as well.
The economy in the UK has been anaemic in the UK which has caused increased numbers of UK citizens to become homeless, but those arriving from Europe are significantly increasing that population. Thames Reach has revealed several stories regarding how people are being forced against their will to work for these gangs and it is largely through their efforts that police have begun making arrests. To date, there have been more than 1,000 individuals from Central and Eastern European countries who have been helped by Thames Reach since 2009.
