The Scrimshaw family arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences at their daffodil picking farm near Manaccan have thanked the local community and their own workers for the support they have received in the aftermath.

Allen Scrimshaw, 68, was speaking to the Packet after he and his 41-year-old son Wolfe were arrested in an early-morning raid at Bosahan Farm, along with a 49-year-old permanent worker from Lithuania, forklift driver Robertas Segunas, who was arrested on suspicion of being an unlicensed gangmaster.

All three have since been released under caution, pending further enquiries by police. No charges have been brought at this time.

It was around 6am last Thursday morning that peace was shattered at the farm, when police swooped in a raid supported by the Gang Masters Labour Abuse Authority, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Cornwall Council, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Operating under a modern slavery warrant, officers walked into Wolfe’s home at the farm, handcuffed him and took him straight to Camborne Police Station, where they questioned him until 10pm.

When Allen arrived for work at 8.30am he too was arrested and, unbeknown to Wolfe – or his wife Judy, who expected him home at 10am – was also taken to the station for questioning.

Allen said: “It was a total shock. I just had no idea.

“We have 210 people here, of which most of them are happy and 14 have complained, but they haven’t told us what the complaints are.”

Allen, who has largely retired from the business that is now run by Wolfe, said of his son: “He hasn’t slept, he’s barely eaten anything since Thursday. It’s really hit him hard.”

He thanked the local community for its support over the last few days, saying he had also received cards from as far away as Australia and Canada.

“I’d like to thank everybody who has contacted me with nice words,” he added.

Police seized all the business’s computer and thousands of pounds worth of money. Robertas has also had his phone, money and cards taken by police, which they have yet to return.

Around 200 migrant workers were placed in the care of Cornwall Council, backed up by the Salvation Army, at a specially created reception centre.

Of these, 14 people aged between 20 and 40 years - 12 men and two women - chose to seek help through a national referral scheme applied in such circumstances.

The group, who were Lithuanian and Romanian speakers, were taken away by minibus that afternoon.

The remainder of the workforce chose to go back out into the fields picking daffodils that same morning.

That evening around 100 of them descended on Camborne Police Station to protest at the raid taking place and to offer support to their employers who were being questioned there.

An interpreter for the group said they "wanted to get the truth out" that they were not modern slaves at the farm, where they are provided with a recreation room complete with pool table and table tennis, drying facilities for their waterproof clothes and free wifi to stay in contact with their families back home. They live in caravans that house between four and six workers.

Speaking to the Packet on Tuesday, Romanian worker Mazin Razuan said: “The conditions are good. When they arrested Mr Wolfe, it was a shock for all the people. He’s a good boss.

“Most of what people say is just bull**** - it’s not true. All the people here are very happy. The next year all the people will come back.”

Pickers get paid in cash daily and rates vary depending on conditions, but on average it works out as 7p per bunch. The best pickers can pick anywhere from 1,500 up to 2,500 bunches every day.

“Some days we have been known to pay £14,000 a day,” said Allen.

He said he did not know the 14 workers who had sought support from the authorities, saying they were new this year, but added: “If they can’t earn a living here that’s because they didn’t want to – they didn’t want to make any effort.”

Around half the workforce also picked at the farm last year, with some returning every year for the last nine or ten years.

“We don’t have gangers,” added Allen. “They [the workers] know what it’s like.”

Detective Inspector Gail Windsor, of Devon and Cornwall Police, was at the farm in the aftermath of the raid and told the BBC it followed concerns about the migrants' welfare and working practices on the farm.

Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner, praised the "excellent coordinated response" from the different agencies, adding: "I am pleased to see police and partners coming together and taking this alleged offence very seriously.

“I believe we need to do more within our communities to bring an end to these medieval practices.”

All potential victims of modern slavery in England and Wales are offered specialist support through the Salvation Army as part of a Government contract.

Kathryn Taylor, from the Salvation Army's anti-trafficking and modern slavery unit, said: "It is vital that all victims of modern slavery are given the opportunity to reflect on their experience in a safe and supportive environment, and to gain access to the assistance they so desperately need and deserve."

She added that anyone requesting assistance would receive immediate access to specialised support, such as counselling, interpretation services, legal and immigration advice, medical and financial assistance and safe house accommodation if needed.