EXCLUSIVE: We're not slaves - we've even got a pool table! Workers at Cornish daffodil farm probed by anti-slavery police defend their bosses as it's claimed raids were sparked by 'an employee with a grudge' 

  • RH Scrimshaw and Sons was raided Thursday morning amid reports of slavery
  • But photos reveal the site shares more in common with a seaside holiday camp
  • Workers live in comfortable static caravans, relax in a recreation room with pool tables and play basketball outside on their breaks

These behind the scenes pictures reveal life inside the Cornish 'slavery' farm - which looks like a seaside holiday camp.

The images show people working amid rows of smart caravans with pool rooms, internet facilities, shelves full of books and ping pong tables.

RH Scrimshaw and Sons was raided by police on Thursday morning amid reports that as many as 200 migrants were working as slaves.

Revealed: Life inside RH Scrimshaw and Sons in Manaccan, Cornwall - the farm raided by anti-slavery police on Thursday morning

Revealed: Life inside RH Scrimshaw and Sons in Manaccan, Cornwall - the farm raided by anti-slavery police on Thursday morning

The raid came amid reports that as many as 200 migrants were working as slaves on the compound. Pictured: Workers relax in a recreational area after picking flowers

The raid came amid reports that as many as 200 migrants were working as slaves on the compound. Pictured: Workers relax in a recreational area after picking flowers

Three men were arrested but photos appear t show that the farm shares more in common with a holiday camp.

This series of photos appear to show living conditions on the farm in Manaccan, Cornwall. It is not known when the photographs were taken. 

In the pictures workers accommodation is seen, with row after row of neatly organised static caravans reportedly holding up to five people.

The farm has a recreation ground, where people are seen relaxing by a pool, playing table tennis, and enjoying free wifi.

A large blue signed emblazoned with the 12 gold stars of the EU bears the message: 'This project is partly financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and the UK government'.

Three Ford Transit minibuses can also be seen in red, blue and yellow, which are used to transport the workers to daffodil fields, many of which are ten minutes away. 

A woman carries her washing back to her static caravan, one of many on the site co-owned by Wolfe Scrimshaw

A woman carries her washing back to her static caravan, one of many on the site co-owned by Wolfe Scrimshaw

The compound is fitted with a drying room, where people deposit their wet waterproofs after work 

The compound is fitted with a drying room, where people deposit their wet waterproofs after work 

Men relax in the recreational area at Bosahan Farm, which is fitted with sofas, pool tables and a table tennis table

Men relax in the recreational area at Bosahan Farm, which is fitted with sofas, pool tables and a table tennis table

Cops swooped on Bosahan Farm at around 6am on Thursday morning and arrested two local men on suspicion of modern slavery and another for alleged gang master licence offences.

One of the arrested men released by police under investigation was confirmed as Wolfe Scrimshaw, who helps run the farm.

Wolfe's mother Judith Scrimshaw, 68, who lives in Helford, Cornwall, approximately a mile from the farm, confirmed both her son Wolfe and her husband Allen Scrimshaw, 68, were among those arrested.

Around 200 migrant workers, employed in picking flowers, were on the site at the time, and 14 requested assistance.

Reports suggest the raid was sparked by those 14 workers who recently arrived and were not able to work for a few days because there was snow on the ground. 

It is thought they might have gone to the police.  

Cops swooped on Bosahan Farm at around 6am on Thursday morning, arresting three men, all who have been released under invesitgation

Cops swooped on Bosahan Farm at around 6am on Thursday morning, arresting three men, all who have been released under invesitgation

Of the 200 workers on site only 14 requested help. It is thought those were the ones who complained to police

Of the 200 workers on site only 14 requested help. It is thought those were the ones who complained to police

The farm is part funded by a grant from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 

The farm is part funded by a grant from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 

Police were assisted by the Gang Masters Labour Abuse Authority as they raided the farm on the Lizard in Cornwall (pictured)

Police were assisted by the Gang Masters Labour Abuse Authority as they raided the farm on the Lizard in Cornwall (pictured)

The workers at Bosahan Farm are mostly male migrants from Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria

The workers at Bosahan Farm are mostly male migrants from Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria

Photos from previous seasons decorate the wall of the recreational room

Photos from previous seasons decorate the wall of the recreational room

A migrant worker logs onto the free wifi provided by owner Wolfe Scrimshaw, one of the three arrested on Thursday

A migrant worker logs onto the free wifi provided by owner Wolfe Scrimshaw, one of the three arrested on Thursday

Ochea Adrian, one of the migrant workers, heads out to play catch on one of his breaks

Ochea Adrian, one of the migrant workers, heads out to play catch on one of his breaks

Each caravan on the extensive site reportedly houses five workers

Each caravan on the extensive site reportedly houses five workers

Pickers on the farm are earning as much as £240 on a good day

Pickers on the farm are earning as much as £240 on a good day

One local who wished to remain anonymous said: 'Other (farms) are coming forward and offering 'better' conditions but I would challenge anyone to find better conditions flower picking in this county. They would not be able to.

'They're provided with everything they could possibly want - wifi, leisure facilities. It's provided so the same people keep coming back and that's the best possible outcome for all involved.

'It's best if they come back and you don't have to train them up. 

Migrant worker Marin Alina said: 'We were here for four years, every year we come here. If it wasn't very nice we wouldn't come here.

'I was in Denmark and Germany, in Germany the standard of condition is not very good but here it is very good.

Wife and husband, Marin Alina and Marin Razvan, pose in the site's recreation room as they take a break from picking daffodils

Wife and husband, Marin Alina and Marin Razvan, pose in the site's recreation room as they take a break from picking daffodils

Workers on the farm are paid 8p per bunch of flowers picked

Workers on the farm are paid 8p per bunch of flowers picked

The amount each worker earns depends on their physical ability and the weather conditions

The amount each worker earns depends on their physical ability and the weather conditions

'In Romania I have a baby and I come here to work and send the money to Romania, it is ok.'

It is understood that pickers are earning as much as £240 on a good day.

One member of staff, Marius Alsauskas, 25, from Lithuania, who has spent nine seasons on the farm working for three months at a time, said he has earned anything from £60 to £160 a day.

He said: 'I have been working here for nine seasons on the farm picking daffodils and living in the caravans.

'You get free internet, the washing machine and showers are free and there is a small kitchen and pool tables.

'There are a lot of facilities and I really like it.

'It is very good money and I can earn over £100 on a good day.

'I was working on another farm for one year and the conditions were terrible. But here it is perfect.

'It is all clean and you can find everything you need from a home.

'What happened yesterday was terrible. Wolfe is giving us a job which is why we all went to the police station to support him.

'No-one is pushing anyone to come here and you can leave at any time so how are you being treated like a slave? If you don't like it then you can just leave.

'Everyone is back to work today and there is nearly 200 on site.

The workers all live on site and are carried to nearby fields in three brightly coloured minibuses

The workers all live on site and are carried to nearby fields in three brightly coloured minibuses

 As many of 200 workers live on the site, one of which is Burdulea Marian who is seen above

 As many of 200 workers live on the site, one of which is Burdulea Marian who is seen above

'Wolfe is a normal boss and is asking how are you feeling and how many flowers you have picked today.

'All people are different - 14 people were not happy but nearly 200 are happy to be here and earn money.'

Workers on the farm are paid 8p per bunch of flowers picked, and the amount each worker earns depends on their physical ability and the weather conditions.

The workers all live on site, where there is also a games room, a recreation room, and they have access to the internet.

A spokesperson said: 'It's hard work and you have to be physically fit.

'Our best picker makes £240 a day on a good day, it's 8p per bunch.

'That is our best picker, but they can earn a good wage, much more than they would back home.

'They have a games room, a recreation room and they have access to the internet.'

Chris Hosken worked at Bosahan Farm about 20 years ago and witnessed the introduction of immigrant labour there.

'We have all seen stories on the news of trafficking and exploitation and that's abhorrent. It's not how it is done at Bosahan, it never has been,' said Chris, 57, an agricultural contractor who also grows daffodils.

Gang masters - individuals who supply casual labour in the agriculture industry - were only used by the farm in its early years.

Many gang masters are licenced labour providers and therefore operate entirely within the law, he explained.

'Gang masters are providing a service and I guess there are some that are exploiting people.

'[Bosahan Farm] do not employ a gang master. The authorities have no control over what they do. They are doing it right so they don't need to join the gang master register which is a case of ticking boxes and paying a subscription.'

As the farm did not employ a gang master it did not apply for a licence from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), which was involved in this week's raid alongside police.

Chris believes this may have lead the GLAA to suspect the farm was operating illegally.

'Originally there were probably about 100 local people who used to pick, from all the local villages.

Former flower picker Chris Hosken (pictured) worked at the farm 20 years ago, when it hired its first migrant labour force

Former flower picker Chris Hosken (pictured) worked at the farm 20 years ago, when it hired its first migrant labour force

Furious workers 'rescued' by police gathered outside the police station to protest their treatment

Furious workers 'rescued' by police gathered outside the police station to protest their treatment

'As the farm got busier with the daffodils there were travellers from Lincolnshire, Scotland, anywhere in the country really, and occasionally a few French or Portuguese people.

'Numbers dropped off and there was a need to find labour elsewhere to pick the flowers.'

The first eastern Europeans were Ukrainians, introduced by a gang master.

But soon after Lithuanians arrived who adapted well and stayed for years.

A gang master was no longer needed to encourage labourers to travel for work.

'It was those people that helped the farm get the labour that was required, just through word of mouth really.

'These two guys did this without any charge to their fellow countrymen. They did this as a service.

'There was never any gang labour involved in what went on at Scrimshaws and it worked brilliantly,' explained Chris.

Since then he has seen people return year on year, to escape the snow that brings the rural economy to a halt in their home countries. 

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