LONDON (AP) British police rescued 17 men, women and children from exploitation in northern England as part of an investigation into human trafficking, authorities said Friday.
A three-day, multi-agency operation involved visiting 25 addresses across Leeds, in northern England, to help families identified as potential trafficking victims, West Yorkshire police said.
The operation backed by 60 police officers with the support of health agencies and the local council brought three men, four women and 19 children from addresses mostly in the south and west of Leeds to a reception center, where they were given access to relevant agencies.
Of that group 17 people mainly from Slovakia were then referred into a national framework aimed at identifying human trafficking victims and making sure they receive protection and support, police said.
Many were living in "very poor housing conditions" with "little if any income," Det. Chief Insp. Andy Williams said. Others were having their benefits taken from them and forced to work long hours for little or no pay, he added.
