Seven takeaway staff held in Border Agency swoop (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Seven takeaway staff held in Border Agency swoop

7:30am Monday 4th October 2010 in News By Hannah Baker

Seven illegal workers have been arrested following a UK Border Agency raid on a Bradford take-away.

The operation, which was part of a nationwide campaign to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime, saw specially-trained officers target Shimla Kebab House in Great Horton Road.

They questioned staff and undertook checks to ensure employees had the right to work in the UK.

The arrested workers are all believed to be Pakistani or Indian nationals, aged between 21 and 42. They were arrested for a variety of suspected immigration offences, including overstaying or violating the terms for their visas and entering the UK without permission.

Of the seven arrested, six remained in detention for further questioning and arrangements were being made to try to remove them from the UK. The seventh, a 21-year-old Pakistani man was released on immigration bail and is required to report to the UK Border Agency on a regular basis.

The employers at Shimla’s Kebab House have been handed a civil penalty notice worth up to £70,000 following the raid on Thursday night.

If the businesses are unable to prove the correct pre-employment checks were carried out on the men, a fine of up to £10,000 per employee will be imposed.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: “The Government has tasked the UK Border Agency with carrying out an intense period of enforcement activity over the summer. We are determined to create a hostile environment which makes it harder than ever for illegal immigrants to come to the UK and put down roots.

“Illegal immigration puts untold pressure on public services at a time when this country cannot afford to support people not entitled to it. That’s why the UK Border Agency is working day in, day out to cut out the routes – such as sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised traffickers – being used by foreign nationals to try and stay in the UK permanently.”

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, anonymously, or visit ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime.

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