British authorities concerned about rising number of South Asian 'slave brides'

London, Mar. 15 (ANI): British police and charities have expressed concerns about the increasing number of South Asian "slave brides" who came to UK to get married, but got treated like "domestic slaves" by their in-laws.

Over 500 Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women, who applied for residence in the UK after their failed marriages, were deported because they could not prove that any abuse had actually taken place, the Daily Times quoted a BBC report as saying.

Police and charities are concerned the incidents are not reported because of family pressure and fear of reprisals.

One twenty-something woman told BBC that she was imprisoned by her mother-in-law for three years at their north England house.

A year after her mother-in-law was prosecuted, she is trying to come to terms with her ordeal.

But she said she still 'lives with the fear' inside her.

Research by Imkaan, the national charity for Black and Asian victims of domestic violence, shows how difficult it is for other Asian women to report abuse.

"A woman may not speak English, may not be aware of what's available in terms of services, she may be in a situation where everywhere she goes her abuser or a family member - who may be colluding in the abuse - is actually going with her," says Imkaan Director Marai Larasi.

"So her opportunity to disclose the abuse is compromised. There's also a real lack of services for women in this position," he added.

Parveen Javaid, domestic violence co-ordinator at Manchester-based Pakistani Resource Centre, said: "On average we deal with 20 to 30 cases a month where we give advice and support to women who are victims of mothers-in-law."

"The majority of cases I deal with are women who've been kept as slaves," she added. (ANI)