Wareham: Two Charged After Slavery Victims Freed

15 September 2014, 10:12

Two people from Wareham have been charged with slavery offences after four victims were freed during a police raid.

A 60-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, both from Wareham, were arrested in February 2014 on suspicion of benefit fraud offences.

On Friday (12 September) they were charged with servitude and fraud offences and will appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court in October.
 
Detective Inspector Marcus Hester, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said:

“Following the warrant four victims, all British nationals and aged between late thirties and early seventies, were removed from a location in Wareham.

“It is alleged that one of the victims had been held at the location for many years. All four people are being assisted by the relevant agencies and have been deemed to have been trafficked after going through the national referral mechanism.
 
“This was a detailed and thorough investigation over several months which has now led to these charges.”

60-year-old Mary Linda Turner and 63-year-old David Porter of Wareham have been charged with servitude offences and are due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday 6 October 2014.