Six victims rescued from forced prostitution in North London

A further six victims of modern slavery have been rescued in North London last Friday.

The Met Police, working with Europol, Eurojust and Romanian police have worked to bring down an organised crime network working across the UK and Romania.

On Friday last week, three warrants were executed in Collindale, Barnet, and a 24-year-old man was arrested. A further five people have been detained, and 12 warrants given for human-trafficking offences, in Lasi, north-eastern Romania.

A number of alarming objects were seized from the group in Romania including firearms, cash and high-value watches and vehicles.

The women rescued from this crime ring are currently being supported by specialist officers and by modern slavery charity, Justice and Care.

The organised crime network is reported to have used ‘Loverboy’ tactics to lure the women into the UK before forcing them into prostitution.

The tactic involves men posing as a boyfriend figure, only to manipulate and control the women once in the UK.

Det Insp Melanie Lillywhite, from the Met's Central Specialist Crime's Modern Slavery Unit, said: "Members of this organised criminal network are suspected of recruiting and grooming women in Romania before trafficking them to the UK, where they are forced into prostitution.

"Unfortunately, this type of exploitation is still happening across London and the UK.

“The team works around the clock to identify people involved in human trafficking and forced labour.”

She added, "Victims are often told the police and authorities in the UK are not to be trusted and with limited English are unable to seek help, even if they want to,

"We believe there are victims of modern slavery in every borough across London and the public may encounter them every day, possibly without realising."