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Illegal immigrants caught in Mablethorpe
27 January 2012
Four illegal immigrants have been caught following a UK Border Agency crackdown on businesses in Mablethorpe on the Lincolnshire coast.
Officers first raided on Indian Flavour, Spanish City Complex, High Street on 5 January. Supported by Lincolnshire Police officers, they sealed all exits before questioning the staff and checking their immigration status.
Two men were found in the kitchen area while a third man was discovered hiding behind a chair. When asked why he was hiding, he said that he was trying to keep warm.
The UK Border Agency officers ran checks on the 3 men and discovered that 2 had overstayed their visas while the third had entered the country illegally. They were all identified as Bangladeshi nationals, arrested and taken into detention.
On 24 January another Bangladeshi man was caught illegally working at Mo's takeaway, Victoria Road when UK Border Agency and Lincolnshire police officers paid an unexpected visit. He had overstayed his visa and was arrested before being taken into detention.
The owner of Mo's Indian takeaway was served with a potential fine of up to £10,000 which will have to be paid unless he can prove that he took sufficient steps to confirm the right to work of the illegal worker, such as checking his passport.
A potential fine was not served on the owner of Indian Flavour because none of the illegal immigrants were seen working when officers visited and there were no customers present who could have confirmed that they were working.
The UK Border Agency is now taking action to remove all 4 illegal immigrants from the country as soon as possible.
Paul Tranter, from the UK Border Agency's Lincolnshire local immigration team, said:
'We are cracking down on illegal working and will take action against foreign nationals found to be illegally in the UK as well as those companies that fail to carry out proper checks on passports and other identity documents before employing staff. Any business that takes on a foreign national without permission to work is breaking the law and faces a heavy fine and possible prosecution.'
Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can call 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.