Social services may have ‘missed chances’ to rescue youngest London slave

The Evening Standard has today reported increasing questions over the role of Lambeth council in the “slaves” case after claims that social workers missed “multiple” opportunities to rescue the youngest alleged victim, known as Rosie.

Social services were first alerted 15 years ago, when police asked them to pursue suspicions that Rosie had never attended school.

Today it emerged she had been assessed by Lambeth social services as recently as in 2010 and 2011, following two separate spells in hospital. A source told the newspaper that Rosie was assessed because she suffered from an ongoing disability caused by what they described as “an early-life event”.

Social services were helping put together a care package to enable her to return to the home in Peckford Place.

Lambeth Council leader Lib Peck said: “Everyone has been horrified and shocked by the reports of three women allegedly being held against their will …we will offer any assistance the police require to ensure there is justice for these women.”