UKBA - Enforcement News Thread

Three immigration offenders caught in Cheshire

16 April 2013

Three illegal workers have been caught following raids at two addresses in Cheshire on Thursday 11 April.

Acting on intelligence received ourimmigration enforcement officers visited Wok & Go on Northgate, Chester. They checked the immigration status of the staff and found 2 Chinese men with no right to work in the UK. These included a 22-year-old who had overstayed his visa and a 43-year-old failed asylum seeker.

A second visit by officers to Ming Hua on Cambridge Road in Ellesmere Port revealed a 47-year-old Chinese man who had entered the UK illegally and had no right to work.

All 3 men were arrested and remain in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.

Colin Berrington, from ourimmigration enforcement team in Cheshire, 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.'

Both businesses will be served with notices for employing illegal workers. To avoid fines of up to £10,000 per employee evidence must be provided that the correct pre-employment checks were made on the men - such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

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

We provide support to employers so they can understand the rules, including visits by staff, a dedicated telephone helpline and website.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/33-cheshire-offenders

Two arrested in Rhyl immigration raids

19 April 2013

Two men have been arrested after Home Office immigration enforcement officers carried out raids in Rhyl.

Acting on information received, officers simultaneously raided 2 businesses - The Godfather and Chilli Pinks - on Queen Street on Thursday (18 April) and carried out immigration checks on staff.

At The Godfather takeaway a 33-year-old Pakistani man was found working illegally having stayed in the UK illegally after his visa had expired.

In Chilli Pinks Indian restaurant a 35-year-old Bangladeshi man, was also found to have over-stayed his visa.

Both men were arrested and are currently being held at St Asaph police station pending transfer to immigration detention to await removal from the UK.

Richard Johnson Home Office immigration enforcement said:


'Where we find people living and working illegally in the UK we will seek to remove them.

'We would urge anyone with information about suspected immigration offenders to get in touch so we can take action.'

The Godfather takeaway and Chilli Pinks Indian restaurant were each served with a penalty notice and will now have to provide proof to the Home Office that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out or face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/37-rhyl-arrests

Rickmansworth immigration offenders removed from UK

19 April 2013

Two immigration offenders arrested at a Rickmansworth business have been removed from the UK.

Acting on intelligence, officers from Home Office immigration enforcement visited Buon Cibo in Station Road on 12 April.

Checks revealed that 2 members of staff - a woman, 25, and a man, 26, both from Brazil - had no permission to be in the UK. The woman had entered the UK illegally and the man had overstayed his visa.

Both were taken into immigration detention ahead of their removal from the UK on Wednesday (17 April).

It is the second time in 3 months that immigration offenders have been arrested at Buon Cibo. On 31 January, 2 Brazilian men who had overstayed their visas were detained by immigration officers. They have both since been returned to their home country.

The Home Office is currently considering whether the Buon Cibo will face penalties of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker caught in the two raids.

To avoid being fined, businesses must show that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out on workers, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Tom Leach, Home Office immigration enforcement, said:


'Teams across the country carry out raids like this on a daily basis. There is no hiding place for offenders and we will seek to remove anyone who we find to be in the UK illegally.

'I urge members of the public with information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.'

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/38-rickmansworth

Three arrests following raid in South London

23 April 2013

Three illegal workers from China have been arrested following a raid on a restaurant in Cheam.

Acting on intelligence, Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited Royal China on London Road at around 16:30 on Saturday 20 April 2013, questioning staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested 3 men. Two, aged 22 and 23, had overstayed their visas while the third, aged 39, had entered the country illegally.

All three are currently in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

The business was served with a notice warning the employers that a civil penalty of up to £10,000 - £30,000 per worker arrested will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Jill Smith, from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team in South London, said:


'We carry out operations like this in South London almost every day. Where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

'We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff. Those who choose to break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.

'I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.'

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/40-3-arrests-south-london

Interesting to see the use of immigration detention centres being mentioned again.
Hope the extra space has been made due to folks going back to their home country.

Illegal worker arrested at Brighton tattoo shop

22 April 2013

An illegal worker from the United States has been arrested following a raid on a tattoo shop in Brighton.

Acting on intelligence, our immigration enforcement officers visited Magnum Opus Tattoo Shop on North Street at around 17:25pm on Friday 19 April, questioning staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

Our officers arrested the 39-year-old woman for working in breach of her visa conditions. She is currently in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove her from the country.

The business was served with a notice warning the employers that a fine of up to £10,000 will be issued unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Carla Johnson, from the Home Office immigration enforcement team in Sussex, said:

'We carry out operations like this almost every day in Sussex and more are planned. Where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

'Those who fail to carry out the legally-required checks on staff should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.

'I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.'

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/39-illegal-worker

Hmm.... US citizen ??
That's unusual.
Still, llegal working is illegal working. Period.

Seven arrested and drugs seized after Southall immigration raid

23 April 2013

Seven people have been arrested and thousands of suspected unlicensed viagra pills have been seized after our immigration enforcement officers raided a residential property in Southall.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the address on Lady Margaret Road at around 6:00 on Thursday 18 April 2013, where they carried out immigration checks on those there.

Five Indian men aged between 25 and 43 were arrested for overstaying their visas. Four of the 5 were detained pending their removal from the UK, while one was granted immigration bail while steps are taken to remove him.

A 37-year-old Egyptian man was arrested for entering the UK illegally. He too was detained pending his removal.

Another 37-year-old Egyptian man Hany Mohamed Moustafa El Kady was arrested on suspicion of obtaining leave to remain by deception and possession of a false ID document. He was later charged and appeared before Ealing Magistrates on Friday 19 April. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

During their search of the premises officers uncovered hundreds of thousands of what are believed to be unlicensed viagra and weight loss tablets. It is thought they had a potential value of around £500,000.

These have now been referred to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Authority (MHRA) for further investigation.

Rolls of suspected counterfeit labels for branded whisky and vodka bottles were also discovered, alongside a number of bottles of alcohol. These have been referred to HMRC for checks.

Assistant director Sarah Burton, head of west London immigration enforcement team, said:

'It was an excellent piece of work by all officers involved. Not only did they detain a number of people who were in the UK illegally, but they've also potentially prevented a significant quantity of black-market pills making it onto our streets.

'This was the latest in a series of operations targeting illegal immigration in West London, and for those who are in living and working here illegally there is no hiding place.'

For more information and contact details for our immigration enforcement teams in the south east visit: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/your-region/london-se/local-immigration-teams/

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/52-drugs-immigrant-arrests

Two Illegal Workers Detained at Aberdeen Takeaway

24 April 2013

Acting on intelligence, officers visited Khyber Pass in the Spital on the evening of Tuesday 23 April.

Checks on the immigration status of staff revealed two men from Pakistan had overstayed their visas and had no right to work in the UK. They were arrested and have both been detained pending their removal from the country.

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 pre employment checks were carried out on the men before giving the workers a job, a fine of up to £20,000 will be imposed.

Assistant Director Adam Scarcliffe, from the Home Office's Scotland Immigration Enforcement Team, said:

"The message for anyone living and working in Scotland illegally is clear - we will track you down and remove you from the country. "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."

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/april/58illegalworkersaberdeen

Three arrests following raid in South London

25 April 2013

Acting on intelligence, Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited Cell Phone City, Greens End, on Wednesday 24 April, questioning staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested men aged 23, 25 and 34. All were found to have overstayed their visas.

The two younger men are currently in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country. The 34-year-old has been placed on immigration bail while his case is progressed. If he is found to have no right to remain in the UK he will also face removal.

The business was served with a notice warning the employers that a civil penalty of up to £30,000 - £10,000 per illegal worker - will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.

Sue Blackwood, from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team in east London, said:

'We carry out operations like this in South London almost every day. Where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

'We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff. Those who choose to break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.

'I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.'

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/60-3Arrests-South-London

Two jailed for Harrow sham marriage

25 April 2013

A bogus bride and groom who planned to stage a sham wedding in Harrow have both been jailed for 12 months.

Pakistani man Wahab Khalid, 23, and Portuguese woman Salome Almeida, 22, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of the UK's immigration rules and were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 23 April 2013.

The pair were arrested by officers from Home Office immigration enforcement and Essex Police on 3 April 2013 as they prepared to marry at the register office in Station Road, Harrow.

Khalid, who was in the UK on a student visa, had hoped that his marriage to a national from the European Economic Area would allow him to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in this country.

PC Mark Ghosh, from the Home Office's immigration crime team, said:

'This was not a marriage in any traditional sense, but a criminal business arrangement from which both stood to benefit. Khalid hoped it would extend his stay in the UK, while for Almeida the motivation was money, pure and simple.

'The Home Office is taking strong action to crack down on sham marriages nationwide. Our message could not be clearer - we will not tolerate immigration abuse and offenders will be dealt with.'

In interview Almeida told officers that she had agreed to marry Khalid in return for 1,500 euros.

Subsequent investigations showed that Almeida had flown into the UK on 14 March 2013, attended Harrow Register Office with Khalid to give notice to marry the following morning and then returned to Portugal that afternoon.

When they gave notice to marry the couple insisted that they both lived at Khalid's home at The Drive, Hounslow. During her 24 hours in the UK, Almeida also opened a bank account and obtained a national insurance number, all of which were intended to be used as supporting evidence of the couple's relationship and her residence in the UK.

A marriage certificate alone does not give foreign nationals the right to live and work in the UK. Their relationship has to be genuine. If it is not, they face prosecution or deportation.

The operation involved seconded police officers working together with warranted immigration enforcement officers.

Nationally, the Home Office has specialist crime teams who are a mixture of immigration officers, police officers and customs officers working together to protect our borders and tackle serious and organised immigration crime.

Anyone who has information about suspected immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the Crimestoppers website where anonymity can be assured.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/61-harlow-sham

Five illegal workers arrested in raids on Godalming restaurants

26 April 2013

Five Bangladeshi illegal workers have been arrested following simultaneous raids on two restaurants in Godalming, Surrey.

Acting on intelligence, Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited the Thani Moon and Mogul Spices restaurants on Bridge Street at around 18:30 on Thursday 25 April 2013, where they carried out immigration checks on staff working there.

At the Thani Moon 3 men were arrested. Two, aged 23 and 33, were found to have over-stayed their visas, while a 32-year-old man was found to have entered the UK illegally.

At Mogul Spices 2 men, aged 22 and 36, were both found to have over-stayed their visas.

All 5 were detained pending their removal from the UK, while both restaurants could now face heavy fines.

Bosses will have to provide proof to the Home Office that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on their employees or they will be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker.

Assistant Director Paul Smith, from the Home Office's Surrey immigration enforcement team, said:

'Hopefully this operation will send out the message that we will not tolerate illegal working in Surrey.

'Illegal working fuels illegal immigration to this country, and businesses which don't carry out the correct checks on their staff face being hit with heavy fines.'

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our web page on preventing illegal working, or call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

For more information and contact details see our page about Home Office immigration enforcement teams in the South East.

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/61-godalming

Five immigration arrests in Belfast

29 April 2013

Five men have been arrested following raids by Home Office immigration enforcement teams on two restaurants in Belfast.

Acting on intelligence officers visited SAFA Indian restaurant in Bank Street last Thursday evening (25 April 2013) where a 25-year-old Nepalese man and three Bangladeshi men aged from 30 to 42 were arrested when checks revealed they were working illegally.

On the same evening the officers visited House of Zen Asian restaurant in St. Anne's Square where they arrested a 23-year-old Malaysian man who was also working illegally.

All five men are currently in Home Office detention pending their removal from the country.

Mike Golden, from the Home Office immigration enforcement team in Belfast, 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 restaurants have each been served with a penalty notice for employing the illegal workers. To avoid fines of up to £10,000 per employee evidence must be provided that the correct pre-employment checks were made on the men - such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Every year, the Home Office imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out legally-required checks on their staff.

The Home Office provides support to employers so they can understand the rules, including visits by staff, a dedicated telephone helpline and website.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can vist our page on preventing illegal working, or call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime in Northern Ireland can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/67belfast

Arrest at suspected sham wedding in Hounslow

29 April 2013

A man from India has been arrested just moments before he was due to take part in a suspected "sham marriage" in Hounslow.

Acting on information that the relationship may not be genuine, Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers attended Hounslow Civic Centre on Lampton Road at around 11.30am on Friday 26 April.

Just before the ceremony was due to begin officers intervened and the 22-year-old man, who had been living at an address in St Leonard's Gardens, Hounslow, was arrested for being in the country illegally having overstayed his visa.

He had been due to enter into a partnership with a 21-year-old Latvian woman, who when questioned by officers claimed she had met her groom on Skype.

The woman was interviewed by officers and released, while the Indian man has been detained pending his removal from the UK.

The operation was carried out with the full co-operation of the Superintendent Registrar.

Sarah Burton, head of the Home Office's West London Immigration Enforcement team, said:

"We are working closely with registrars to clamp down on sham weddings and civil partnerships. This operation is another example of the success that we are having.

"Where there are suspicions that a relationship may not be genuine we will investigate and, if necessary, intervene to stop it happening."

A sham marriage or civil partnership typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the European Economic Area as a means of attempting to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in the UK.

Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/66-sham-wedding-hounslow

Yet more attempted sham marriages.

Three arrested following raids in north east London

30 April 2013

Three illegal workers have been arrested following raids on businesses in Ilford and Romford.

Acting on intelligence, Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited K&S London UK Ltd, Beehive Lane, Ilford, and Dixy Chicken, Victoria Road, Romford, on Thursday 25 April 2013, questioning staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

They arrested an Indian man aged 25 at K&S, which was visited at 17:30. A Pakistani man aged 37 and an Indian man aged 26 were arrested at Dixy Chicken, which was visited at 19:00.

All those arrested were found to have overstayed their visas and are currently in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

The businesses were served notices warning the employers that a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Steve Fisher, from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team in North and Central London, said:

'We carry out operations like this in north east London almost every day. Where we find people who are in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

"We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff. Those who choose to break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.

'I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.'

For more information and contact details visit our page on Home Office Immigration and Enforcement teams in London and the South East.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.

Source:-
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2013/april/71-londonarrests

Three illegal workers detained in Kyle of Lochalsh

01 May 2013

Three Bangladeshi men have been have been found working illegally at a Kyle of Lochalsh restaurant following a Home Office Immigration Enforcement operation.

Acting on intelligence, our officers visited Spice Tandoori in Station Road at 18:00 on 30 April.

Checks on the immigration status of staff revealed 3 men from Bangladesh who had no right to work in the UK. They were arrested and have all been detained pending their removal from the country.

The business will be served with a fine for employing the illegal workers. If the employers are unable to provide evidence that legally required pre employment checks were carried out on the men before giving the workers a job, a fine of up to £30,000 will be issued.

Adam Scarcliffe, assistant director, Scotland Immigration Enforcement team, Home Office said:

'The message for anyone living and working in Scotland illegally is clear - it doesn't matter where you are, we will track you down and remove you from the country.

'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.'

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/may/30-kyle-illegal

Illegal Worker arrested in Aylesbury immigration raid

01 May 2013

An illegal worker has been arrested and a restaurant is facing a fine following an immigration raid in Aylesbury.

Acting on intelligence, our Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited Roosters Piri Piri on Cambridge Street at around 14:30 on Tuesday 30 April, where they carried out immigration checks on staff working there.

A 21-year-old Pakistani man was arrested after he was found to have overstayed his visa. He has been detained pending his removal from the UK.

The restaurant will have to provide proof to the Home Office that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on the man or they will be fined up to £10,000 for employing him.

James Masters, chief immigration officer, Thames Valley Immigration Enforcement team, Home Office, said:

'Our officers are out almost every day carrying out these kinds of operations, and where we find someone who is in the UK illegally we will seek to remove them.

'I also hope this operation sends out a message to businesses - you must carry out the correct checks on your staff or you could end up with a heavy fine.'

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/may/30-worker-aylesbury

Three arrested following raid in Hampshire

03 May 2013

Three illegal workers from Bangladesh have been arrested following a raid on a restaurant in Holbury.

Acting on intelligence, our Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited Aroma Indian Cuisine, Long Lane, at around 17:00 on Thursday 2 May, questioning staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

A 29-year-old man was found to have entered the country illegally while 2 other men aged 39 and 40 had overstayed their visas.

All 3 are currently in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

A 4th man, a 52-year-old Bangladeshi, was found to be working illegally and was placed on immigration bail.

The business was issued with a notice warning that a fine of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker found (a potential total of £40,000) will be charged unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Carla Johnson, Immigration Enforcement team in Hampshire, Home Office said:

'We regularly carry out operations like this in Hampshire. 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 at a time when the country can least afford it.

'We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff. Those who choose to break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.

'I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.'

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.

For more information and contact details for Home Office Immigration Enforcement teams visit our regional page for London and the South East.

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/may/12-raid-hampshire

Feltham identity fraudster jailed

02 May 2013

A Feltham man who used a false identity to try and get a British passport has been jailed, following an investigation by our Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers.

Md Ziaur Rahman, 33-year-old, had originally come to the UK legally on a work permit in 2004.

Our Immigration Enforcement investigators were alerted when he applied for a British passport using the assumed name of Sadique Miah.

He submitted an altered birth certificate and Bangladeshi passport in the Miah name to support his application. The passport contained a false residency permit.

Rahman was arrested at his home address in Leigh Place, Feltham, on 16 April. Our officers discovered that he had used the assumed Miah identity to open bank accounts and obtain work in the UK.

He was charged with 2 counts of possession of a false identity document.

At a hearing at Isleworth crown court on Wednesday 1 May he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Sarah Burton, assistant director, Home Office West London Immigration Enforcement team, said:

'Rahman seems to have built his life in the UK on a lie and for a time successfully managed to keep under the radar of the authorities.

'However, there was only so long he could evade detection and I hope this case sends out a warning to those who would try to con their way round our immigration system.

'We will seek to remove him from the UK once he has served his sentence.'

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/may/04-feltham-fraudster