UKBA - Enforcement News Thread

Three illegal workers arrested at Brora restaurant

31 January 2013

Three illegal workers from Bangladesh have been arrested following a UK Border Agency operation in Brora.

Acting on intelligence, officers from the UK Border Agency, assisted by officers from Northern Constabulary, targeted the Spice restaurant in Rosslyn Street on Wednesday 30 January.

After the immigration status of staff was checked, three Bangladeshi men were found working illegally at the business. Arrangements are being made to remove them from the UK.

The business will be served with a civil penalty notice for employing the illegal workers. If the employers are unable to provide evidence that legally required checks were carried out before giving the worker a job - such as asking for a passport or a Home Office document - a fine of up to £30,000 will be imposed.

Adam Scarcliffe, assistant director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland said:


'Offenders should know that there is no hiding place and that where we find people who are in the UK illegally they will be arrested and removed.

'We are targeting employers who take on illegal workers and who encourage illegal immigration in the process.

We're happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be made on staff, but those who choose to break the law should know that they will face heavy fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on thousands of companies which have failed to carry out legally-required checks on their staff.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/january/44-brora-arrests

Taken from a forum member here.

The best I have seen for some time.!

Tom

Four Illegal Workers Caught in Lancashire

04 February 2013

Four people have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences following a series of operations by our officers across Lancashire over the weekend.

Acting on intelligence, our officers targeted 3 businesses on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 February, where they carried out checks on staff to see if they were legally entitled to work in the UK.

Officers visited Millon Takeaway, Freckleton, in Preston at about 18:00 and found 2 Bangladeshi men, aged 29 and 33, working illegally. Both men had overstayed their visas were subsequently arrested.

The following evening officers targeted the Happy Shopper, Barnoldswick and encountered a 27-year-old Pakistani man who was working illegally. He was arrested for overstaying his visa. The same evening officers visited Zainab Collections in Victoria Street, Blackburn where they discovered a 37year-old Pakistani man who was working illegally and had overstayed his visa. He was also arrested.

All businesses will be served with civil penalty notices for employing the illegal workers. If the employers are unable to provide evidence that legally required checks were carried out before employing the workers (such as asking for a passport or a Home Office document) a penalty of up to £10,000 will be imposed.

Alison Wray, head of enforcement, North West, UK Border Agency said:


'We will continue to track down those who have no right to be living or working in the UK. This was a successful operation unearthing 4 immigration offenders. The message is clear; if you are here illegally we will find you, we will catch you and we will remove you from the UK.

'The UK Border Agency is targeting unscrupulous employers who hire illegal workers thereby undercutting wages and potentially exploiting vulnerable workers.

'We are happy to work with businesses and advise what checks need to be carried out on staff, but those who break the law should know that they will face heavy fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper right-to-work checks on staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/11-illegal-workers

20 arrested in major international people smuggling investigation
06 February 2013

Twenty people have been arrested by officers from the UK Border Agency in one of the biggest ever operations targeting suspected people smuggling gangs in Britain.

At around 6am on 6 February 2013 around 200 officers carried out simultaneous raids on 35 addresses across the UK; in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry, Peterborough, Stoke-on-Trent, Sheffield, Warwickshire and Hampshire.

The arrests were the culmination of a joint investigation between the UK Border Agency's criminal and financial investigation team and law enforcement agencies in France and Belgium, which also saw more than 40 raids take place in those countries.

Those arrested are suspected of being part of an alleged criminal network believed to assist illegal immigrants attempt to reach the UK by smuggling them in the back of lorries travelling through the Channel ports.

It is believed clients could be charged between £2,000 and £6,000 to be taken to the UK.

Those arrested are all aged between 18 and 38. In addition computers, documents, cash and mobile phones were seized from a number of addresses and will now be examined.

Immigration Minister, Mark Harper, said:


'People smuggling is an international crime which requires international co-operation, and the arrests made today by the UK Border Agency show that co-operation is yielding results.

'The organised criminal gangs involved in people smuggling pray on the desperation of others in order to line their own pockets. They are also a major factor involved in illegal immigration to the UK.'

Chris Foster, from the UK Border Agency's criminal and financial investigation team, said:


'We believe this to be one of the biggest operations of its kind ever undertaken in the UK, involving officers the length and breadth of the country.

'My officers have been working closely with their counterparts in France and Belgium as well as other law enforcement agencies in the UK in the build-up to today's operation.

'We believe we have successfully disrupted a significant organised network suspected of being involved in a systematic attempt to evade the UK's immigration controls.

'Our investigation will continue with the evidence we have seized today.'

All were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration and money laundering and are now being questioned at various police stations around the UK.

In addition, 6 people were arrested for offences unrelated to the investigation at addresses in Manor Park, Palmers Green and Southall in London, and at an address in Southsea, Hampshire.

The operations in Belgium, France and the UK were supported and coordinated by Eurojust and Europol.

The UK Border Agency's criminal and financial investigation team is a specialist unit of seconded police officers working alongside warranted UK Border Agency officers to investigate organised immigration crime.

Anyone who has information about immigration crime should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/13-people

Arrested groom-to-be was in UK illegally

06 February 2013

A groom-to-be is in immigration detention after he was arrested by the UK Border Agency shortly before his planned wedding in Cambridge.

UK Border Agency officers went to Cambridge register office, Castle Street, on Monday (4 February) after receiving information that an immigration offender from Egypt was planning to get married there.

Arriving before the wedding, officers stopped the ceremony from going ahead and arrested the 31-year-old groom.

Immigration checks revealed he was an Egyptian national who had over-stayed his leave to remain in the UK.

The man has been transferred to immigration detention pending his removal from the UK.

Andy Morfill, of the UK Border Agency, said:


'We carry out operations every week across Cambridgeshire and will arrest offenders at businesses, home addresses and even when they are attempting to get married as this case shows.

'When we receive information about people who are in the country illegally we act on it.

'We are sending a simple, clear message to anyone attempting to undermine the UK's immigration laws - we will investigate you and catch you.'

The man's planned bride - a Polish national - was questioned, but no further action was taken against her.


Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/12-groom-arrested

Three arrested after raid on Camden pub

11 February 2013

Three illegal workers have been arrested following a UK Border Agency raid on a pub in Camden.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Hawley Arms on Castlehaven Road on Saturday 9 February, where they carried out checks on staff to see if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested a 25-year-old woman from the United States who was working in breach of her visa conditions, a 35-year-old Mongolian man who had entered the UK illegally and a 28-year-old Mongolian man who had over-stayed his visa.

All three were detained pending their removal from the UK.

The business was warned that it will face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker unless proof can be provided to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on the three.

Assistant director Steve Fisher, from the UK Border Agency, said:


'This is the latest in a series of raids we have carried out in north London and more are planned in the future. For those who are in living and working in the country illegally there is no hiding place.

'We are also targeting employers who fail to carry out the correct checks on their staff.

'My officers are happy to work with employers to help them make sure they know what needs to be done, but those who flout the rules could face big fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper right-to-work checks on staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/26-camden

Northampton Chinese restaurant staff held in raid

The head chef and three other members of staff at a Northampton restaurant are facing deportation after being arrested in an immigration raid.

The UK Border Agency raided Mandarin Buffet, in Octagon Way, on Wednesday evening.

Checks revealed that three Chinese men, aged 24, 25 and 42, and one 37-year-old man from Indonesia were working at the business without permission.

The agency said it was working to remove them from the country.

The restaurant faces a potential fine of up to £40,000 if it is found to have not carried out the correct pre-employment checks.

Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-12358499

We've got a table booked tonight
It's a big restaurant and very popular.

Well we enjoyed our buffet last night

The place was absolutely packed, as usual.
No sign of any staff shortages.

Bradford illegal worker arrested after hiding under shop floor

14 February 2013

UK Border Agency officers got more than they bargained for when they raided a clothing shop in Bradford - an under floor search for an illegal worker attempting to evade capture.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited Janan Clothing, Shearbridge Road, on Sunday 10 February following allegations that a security guard was working there illegally.

After trying for an hour to enter the building without success officers covering back exits noticed a light being turned off, confirming suspicions somebody was hiding inside. The owner was contacted who let the team into the building.

Further investigations revealed the man they had come to arrest - a 24-year-old Pakistani - was hiding between floor boards and the foundations of the building. He remained there despite verbal commands to come out in both English and Urdu.

Eventually two immigration officers entered the void space, which was around five feet wide and two and half feet high, and crawled for nearly two minutes until they found the man hiding next to a wall.

After establishing he was not armed they led him out of the void before arresting him. He had overstayed his visa and was placed in immigration detention while the UK Border Agency progresses his case.

The business was served a notice warning a penalty of up to £10,000 will be imposed unless proof is provided to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Ian Milner, from the UK Border Agency, said:


'This was an unusual operation and shows the lengths to which some people will go to try to avoid detection by our officers.

'But thanks to the patience and determination of the two officers who entered the void, we were able to arrest this individual.

'Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.

'We carry out regular operations such as this across the region. We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff, but those who do break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy financial penalties.'

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/31-bradford-illegal

Two arrested in raid on West London bookmaker

14 February 2013

Two illegal workers have been arrested following a raid by our officers on a bookmaker in Shepherd's Bush.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Paddy Power shop on Goldhawk Road on the afternoon of Tuesday 12 February, where they carried out checks on staff to see if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested 2 men, a 28-year-old Indian and a 33-year-old Sri Lankan who were both working in breach of their visa conditions.

The men were detained pending their removal from the UK.

The business was warned that it will face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker unless proof can be provided to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on the pair.

Sarah Burton, assistant director, UK Border Agency said:


'My officers are carrying out operations like this almost every day, and for those who are in living and working in the country illegally there is no hiding place.

'We are also targeting employers who fail to carry out the correct checks on their staff.

'The UK Border Agency is happy to work with employers to help them make sure they know what needs to be done, but those who flout the rules could face big fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper right-to-work checks on staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/32-bookmaker

Four immigration offenders arrested in Belfast

21 February 2013

Acting on intelligence our officers visited a residential address in the university area of Belfast on 20 February.

Checks on 4 men found at the property revealed they were working illegally at car washes in Belfast.

The men, who are aged between 25 and 29, have been placed in UK Border Agency detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

Mike Golden, of the UK Border Agency said:


'Foreign nationals who are in this country illegally should be in no doubt that they will be found, arrested and removed from the UK.'

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/42-car-wash

Six arrested following raid in Crawley

22 February 2013

Six illegal workers have been arrested following a raid by our officers on a Crawley restaurant.

Acting on intelligence, and with assistance from Sussex Police, officers visited Charlie Choys, Crawley Leisure Park, at 17:00 on Thursday 21 February where they questioned staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested 6 men aged between 25 and 55. Three Indians aged 25, 26 and 30 had overstayed their visas; 2 Indians aged 28 and 55 had entered the country illegally and a 37-year-old Pakistani was a failed asylum seeker.

All those arrested are currently in immigration detention while we take steps to remove them from the country at the earliest opportunity.

The business was served a notice warning of a fine of up to £60,000 - £10,000 per illegal worker found, which will be imposed unless proof is provided to us that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Carla Johnson, UK Border Agency, said:


'We regularly carry out operations like this in Sussex, and where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

'Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.

'More visits like this are being planned for Sussex and whilst we're happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff, those who do break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.'

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/44-six-crawley

Five arrested in raid on Finchley restaurant

26 February 2013

Five people have been arrested following a raid by our officers on a restaurant in Finchley.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Sun and Sand Lounge on Hendon Lane at around 17:30 on Wednesday 20 February, where they carried out checks on staff to see if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested 5 men, all Indian nationals aged between 25 and 60, who had all over-stayed their visas.

Four of the 5 were detained pending their removal from the UK, while the fifth man, a 38-year-old, was granted immigration bail.

The business was warned that it will face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker unless proof can be provided to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on the pair.

Mark Baker, chief immigration officer, UK Border Agency said:


'We are carrying out operations like this across London almost every day, and for those who are in living and working in the country illegally there is no hiding place.

'We are also targeting employers who fail to carry out the correct checks on their staff.

'The UK Border Agency is happy to work with employers to help them make sure they know what needs to be done, but those who flout the rules could face big fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper right-to-work checks on staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/47-finchley

Illegal worker arrested at Edinburgh takeaway

25 February 2013

An illegal worker from Bangladesh has been arrested following an operation by our officers in Edinburgh.

Acting on intelligence, our officers targeted the Curry Leaf in Bruntsfield Place on Friday evening (22 February).

After the immigration status of staff was checked, a 30 year old Bangladeshi man was found working illegally at the business, having overstayed his visa. He is being held in UK Border Agency detention while arrangements are made to remove him from the UK.

The business was served with a civil penalty notice for employing the illegal worker. If the employers are unable to provide evidence that legally required checks were carried out before giving the worker a job - such as asking for a passport or a Home Office document - a fine of up to £10,000 will be imposed.

Adam Scarcliffe, assistant director, Scotland, UK Border Agency said:


'Offenders should know that there is no hiding place and that where we find people who are in the UK illegally they will be arrested and removed.

'We're happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be made on staff, but those who break the law should know that they will face heavy fines.'


Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which have failed to carry out legally-required checks on their staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/46-edinburgh

Criminal network dismantled in joint operation

25 February 2013

A gang suspected of helping dozens of Albanian migrants attempt to reach the UK illegally has been dismantled, following a joint investigation involving our officers and Italian police.

The gang, which was based in Turin, charged their clients up to 5,000 Euros
(£4,300) for a package of falsified Italian identity documents and flight tickets.

It is believed these would be used to board planes to Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester from regional airports in Italy, with the eventual intention of working illegally in the UK.

Working with the Italian authorities, our officers from the risk and liaison overseas network (RALON) tracked the migrants, and had already prevented around 40 Albanian nationals from boarding flights.

On 17 February, following an 18 month investigation initiated by our officers in London and Italy and the Italian border police in Turin, 2 Albanian men aged 52 and 26, believed to be the gang's ringleaders, were arrested by the Italian authorities. They remain in custody. Another 28 suspected collaborators were cautioned pending further investigation.

Simon Cooper, assistant director, UK Border Agency said:


'These arrests are the culmination of a successful investigation involving UK Border Agency officers working in close collaboration the Italian police. We believe this operation will have a significant impact on the network involved.

'We continue to work in close partnership with law enforcement partners at home and overseas to tackle illegal immigration and the criminal gangs behind it.

'Anyone involved in bringing illegal immigrants into Britain should know they will be targeted and brought to justice - wherever they are.'

The UK Border Agency's risk and liaison overseas network (RALON) links with agencies at home and abroad to tackle immigration abuse and works with airlines to prevent the carriage of inadequately documented passengers.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/45-crim-network

Five arrested in raid on Finchley restaurant

26 February 2013

Five people have been arrested following a raid by our officers on a restaurant in Finchley.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Sun and Sand Lounge on Hendon Lane at around 17:30 on Wednesday 20 February, where they carried out checks on staff to see if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested 5 men, all Indian nationals aged between 25 and 60, who had all over-stayed their visas.

Four of the 5 were detained pending their removal from the UK, while the fifth man, a 38-year-old, was granted immigration bail.

The business was warned that it will face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker unless proof can be provided to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on the pair.

Mark Baker, chief immigration officer, UK Border Agency said:


'We are carrying out operations like this across London almost every day, and for those who are in living and working in the country illegally there is no hiding place.

'We are also targeting employers who fail to carry out the correct checks on their staff.

'The UK Border Agency is happy to work with employers to help them make sure they know what needs to be done, but those who flout the rules could face big fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper right-to-work checks on staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/47-finchley

Four immigration offenders caught at a Walderslade restaurant in Kent

27 February 2013

Following a UK Border Agency raid, 4 men from Bangladesh, have been caught working illegally at a restaurant in Walderslade, Kent.

Acting on intelligence received, officers visited Taj Cuisine, Walderslade Road, on Saturday 23 February.

Checks on the staff working there found that 2 of the men aged 31 and 41 had entered the UK illegally, while a 30-year-old was working in breach of his visa conditions.

All 3 were arrested and remain in immigration detention pending their removal from the UK.

A fourth man was found working illegally in the restaurant. He was escorted from the business and must report regularly to us while his immigration case is considered. If he is found to have no right to remain in the UK he will also face removal.

Jackie Fowler, head of the agency's immigration compliance and engagement team in Kent, said:


'We are determined to stamp out abuse of the immigration system.

'We want the public to contact us if they have any information on businesses or people who are breaking immigration law.

'Employers who take on illegal workers are both fuelling illegal immigration and undercutting businesses which play by the rules.'

The takeaway faces a potential fine of up to £40,000 unless it can prove that the appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out on the men, such as seeing a passport or a Home Office document.

Every year, we impose civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out legally required checks on their staff.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/february/49-offenders-caught-kent

Three arrested following raid in south London

27 February 2013

Three people have been arrested following a UK Border Agency raid on a Crystal Palace restaurant.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited EDO, Westow Hill, on Tuesday 26 February where they questioned staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

In the restaurant they arrested two Thai women aged 43 and 53 as well as a 24-year-old Thai male. All three individuals had overstayed their visas and were in the UK illegally.

Those arrested are currently in immigration detention while the UK Border Agency takes steps to remove them from the country at the earliest opportunity.

The business was served a notice warning a fine of up to £30,000 - £10,000 per illegal worker found on the restaurant premises - will be imposed unless proof is provided to the UK Border Agency that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Jill Smith, head of South London enforcement for the UK Border Agency, said:


'We regularly carry out operations like this in London, and where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

'Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.

More visits like this are being planned for London and whilst we're happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff, those who do break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.'

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/s...ukborderagency+(UK+Border+Agency+latest+news)

Six Immigration offenders detained in Cheshire

01 March 2013

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences following a series of UK Border Agency operations across Cheshire on 27 February.

Acting on intelligence, officers from the UK Border Agency targeted two businesses and carried out checks on staff to see if they were legally entitled to work in the UK.

The officers visited Hartwells Garage, Chester Road in Cheshire and arrested two Ghanaian men who were in the country illegally. One of the men, a 45-year-old was found to have entered the UK illegally while the other, a 43-year-old, was found to have overstayed his visa. Both men were employed through Falcon Car Care who co-operated fully with the UK Border Agency during their enquiries.

Officers also visited Agra Fort Restaurant, Cambridge Road in Ellesmere Port in a joint operation with Cheshire police. There they discovered four Bangladeshi men aged between 31 and 33. None had the right to be in the UK, having either having overstayed their visa or entered the UK illegally. All four men were arrested..

All six men currently remain in detention pending their removal from the UK.

The Agra Fort was served with a civil penalty notice for employing the illegal workers. If the employer is unable to provide evidence that legally required checks were carried out before employing the workers (such as asking for a passport or a Home Office document) a penalty of up to £10,000 will be imposed.

Alison Wray, head of enforcement for the UK Border Agency in the North West, said:



'We will continue to track down those who have no right to be living or working in the UK. This was a successful operation unearthing six immigration offenders. The message is clear; if you are here illegally we will find you, we will catch you and we will remove you from the UK.

'The UK Border Agency is targeting unscrupulous employers who hire illegal workers thereby undercutting wages and potentially exploiting vulnerable workers.

'We are happy to work with businesses and advise what checks need to be carried out on staff, but those who break the law should know that they will face heavy fines.'

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out proper right-to-work checks on staff. Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/s...ukborderagency+(UK+Border+Agency+latest+news)