The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) say the victim, who is now 58 years old is a victim of slavery having spend the last four decades in a six foot shed in Cumbria.
READ MORE: Family 'Devastated' After Man Lived & Died as Modern Slave in London
GLAA officers, the National Crime Agency and Cumbria Police carried out dawn raids at the property in Carlisle, the potential slavery victim has been taken away by specialist trauma officers to be assessed by medics. Cumbria Housing Department is investigating potential breaches of health and safety.
NEWS UPDATE:
— GLAA (@UK_Glaa) October 3, 2018
GLAA officers have rescued a potential victim of #modernslavery who has been living in shocking conditions for 40 years. Investigators believe the victim has been living in a six foot shed in Cumbria for almost 4 decades. Details here: https://t.co/RNWCjAM7Uu pic.twitter.com/QP6wbKrM34
GLAA officers were supported by @Cumbriapolice @NCA_UK and Cumbria Housing Dept when they arrested a man on suspicion of #modernslavery offences in Cumbria earlier today and rescued a man living in the shocking conditions shown in these images. https://t.co/RNWCjAM7Uu pic.twitter.com/BMSo01CNWa
— GLAA (@UK_Glaa) October 3, 2018
READ MORE: Family Kept Neighbors as Slaves Inside Apartment Block in Britain — Reports
More than 13,000 people are believed to be living and treated as slaves in Britain, costing the UK economy US$ 5.6 billion a year.
However despite passing the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, the British government is accused of not doing enough to get a grip on the crime.
Modern slavery is a complex crime. Government must get a grip on what action works and what doesn't. Read our new recommendations https://t.co/JDOfJL4bL1 pic.twitter.com/6XmCGl927f
— Public Accounts Committee (@CommonsPAC) May 2, 2018
READ MORE: UK Gov't Reveals Latest Plans to Beat Slavery in Global Supply Chains