Eight 'slaves' rescued and three arrested in huge Buckinghamshire modern slavery raid

Eight people believed to be victims of modern slavery have been rescued from forced labour after a huge raid at a residential property in Buckinghamshire.

Three arrests were made as around 100 officers raided the property in lver, South Buckinghamshire, after allegations were made about forced labour being carried out at building sites.

A further six people are being supported at a reception centre after the raid, led by Thames Valley Police with assistance from the National Crime Agency, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

Two men, aged 49 and 42, and a 28-year-old woman, all from Iver, were arrested under suspicion of modern slavery offences and remain in custody.

Detective Inspector James Mather, who leads the operation, warned "modern slavery could be happening in your community" and advised the public on how to spot victims.

He said a 'slave's' appearance may be "unkempt, they may be malnourished, or showing signs of physical or psychological injury" and they could be lacking appropriate clothing or equipment for their job.

"The signs of modern slavery aren’t always obvious but there are some that you may notice. These include people being withdrawn, unable to make eye contact, or being reluctant to talk to strangers," he said.

He added: "Their accommodation may be overcrowded and poorly maintained."

Images shared by police on YouTube showed what appeared to be suspects being handcuffed and the inside of an untidy property with clothes strewn across the floor.

Detective Inspector Mather said the investigation was in its early stages and "considerable work to identify any further victims will follow".

He thanked all the officers and agencies involved and asked anyone with information relating to modern day slaver to call the helpline on 08000 121 700.