11:00am Sunday 6th May 2012
A Bradford takeaway restaurant could face a £20,000 fine after suspected illegal workers were found on its premises.
It comes after UK Border Agency officers arrested two men during an operation carried out at the Steak Out Grill House, in Sticker Lane, on Thursday, acting on what it described as “intelligence reports”.
Two Pakistani men, aged 18 and 50, were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after neither was found to have permission to work in the UK. The pair are now being interviewed and steps will be taken to remove them from the UK, the agency has said.
The restaurant was issued with a civil penalty notice of up to £10,000 per illegal worker and now has 30 days to show that it carried out proper checks on the workers, or it will face the financial penalty.
The enforcement action is part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown tackling immigration crime.
Ian Milner, head of enforcement operations at the UK Border Agency West Yorkshire local immigration team, said: “Our officers carry out intelligence-led enforcement operations across the whole of the region. If you are an employer using illegal labour, we will find you and we will take strong action.
“We use intelligence from the public and welcome genuine and detailed information about suspected illegal working. We also have the resources to carry out action as a result of this intelligence.
“Illegal working is not victimless. It undercuts honest traders, defrauds the public purse and takes advantage of some of society’s most vulnerable people.”
The UK Border Agency provides a range of support to employers to help them understand the rules, including compliance visits, telephone and website support.
The employer itself, however, is responsible for carrying out checks before it employs migrant workers.
Staff at the Steak Out Grill House declined to comment.
* Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the UK Border Agency at ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ aboutus/contact/report-crime.
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