Latest news and updates
Four illegal workers arrested in raid on Sussex restaurant
17 January 2012
Four illegal workers have been arrested after a UK Border Agency raid on an Indian restaurant in Lancing.
Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Prithi Raj, South Street, at 5pm on Thursday 12 January 2012 to carry out checks on staff working there.
Four Bangladeshi men were arrested. A 25-year-old had entered the country illegally while the others, who were aged 35, 37 and 39, had overstayed their visas.
The 25-year-old and 39-year-old were found with forged residency documents and initially gave false details to officers.
All 4 people are currently in immigration detention while we take steps to remove them from the country at the earliest possible opportunity.
The owner of the restaurant was given a penalty notice warning he could face a fine of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker arrested, unless he can prove to us that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.
Tim Reichardt, head of the UK Border Agency's Sussex local immigration team, said:
'This is the latest in a series of operations we've carried out in Sussex and we continue to have success targeting employers who use illegal workers.
'Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.
'We're 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 fines.'
Every year, we impose civil penalties on thousands 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 find information on the UK Border Agency's Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.
Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Crimestoppers website.
For more information and contact details, see the Sussex local immigration team page.