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Migrant workers in Cornwall protest arrest of bosses | Migrant workers in Cornwall protest arrest of bosses |
(about 2 hours later) | |
About 100 migrant workers gathered outside a police station to protest against the arrest of their bosses. | About 100 migrant workers gathered outside a police station to protest against the arrest of their bosses. |
Three men were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of modern slavery offences at Bosahan farm near Helston in Cornwall. | |
The protesters said they were also angry they had been portrayed as modern slaves after police raided the farm. | |
A senior officer described the demonstration as "good, legitimate democracy". | |
More Cornwall and Devon stories | More Cornwall and Devon stories |
The three men aged 61, 49 and 41 were released earlier "pending further enquiries", police said. | |
Two hundred workers, mainly from Romania and Lithuania, live on the farm where they pick flowers. | Two hundred workers, mainly from Romania and Lithuania, live on the farm where they pick flowers. |
Justinas Staliunas, an interpreter for the group, said: "We are all here basically to get the truth out and to show that the people here are not modern slaves. They are not slaves. | Justinas Staliunas, an interpreter for the group, said: "We are all here basically to get the truth out and to show that the people here are not modern slaves. They are not slaves. |
"They come here to work, some people here have worked for 13 or 15 years for the same people. Now, I wouldn't call that slavery." | "They come here to work, some people here have worked for 13 or 15 years for the same people. Now, I wouldn't call that slavery." |
Fourteen of the workers chose to leave the farm after they were spoken to by police and other agencies. | |
'Legitimate democracy' | 'Legitimate democracy' |
The raid on Thursday morning led to two men being arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and one man was taken into custody on suspicion of gangmaster offences. | |
One of the arrested men has been released while investigations continue. | |
Shaun Sawyer, Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, said: "We have seen in Cornwall that there is exploitation by organised crime, and exploitation of migrant workers and that's what we are investigating." | |
Speaking of the protest he said: "It's good, legitimate democracy. | Speaking of the protest he said: "It's good, legitimate democracy. |
"Why wouldn't those who don't understand want to go to a British police station and express their views very legitimately? I think that is democracy." | "Why wouldn't those who don't understand want to go to a British police station and express their views very legitimately? I think that is democracy." |