Two arrested in immigration raid (From Bucks Free Press)

Two arrested in immigration raid in Bourne End

3:53pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

AN Indian restaurant in Bourne End could be facing a fine of up to £20,000 after two members of staff were arrested by the UK Border Agency.

Acting on intelligence, Immigration officials visited The Last Viceroy on The Parade on Wednesday last week, where they carried out checks to see if staff had the right to work in the UK.

The officers arrested two employees, both Bangladeshi men. The first, a 20-year-old, was suspected of over-staying his visa, while the second, aged 21, had allegedly had his student visa curtailed for failing to attend his college.

Both were detained pending their removal from the UK, while the restaurant could now be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker, unless they can prove the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on their employees, a spokesman said.

Paul Smith, assistant director of the UK Border Agency, said: “Our enforcement teams are out almost every day across the Thames Valley carrying out operations like this and where we find someone who is in the UK we will seek to remove them.

“But we are also targeting employers who take on illegal workers. They are both fuelling illegal immigration and damaging the majority of legitimate businesses who play by the rules.

“This is why we have the power to hit those who break the law with heavy fines.”

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/advice-for-employers or they can call the UK Border Agency’s Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

For more information and contact details for Local Immigration Teams in the Thames Valley visit: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/your-region/london-se/local-immigration-teams/

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org