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Nine arrested following raids in Sussex


14 November 2012

Nine people have been arrested following a series of our raids in Crawley.

Acting on intelligence, our officers carried out visits to a number of residential addresses on Thursday 8 November and Friday 9 November. The operation was part of a crackdown on individuals who have over-stayed their visas.

Details of the arrests are as follows:

  • The Rise, Pound Hill, was visited at 5.30am on Thursday and a 25-year-old Pakistani male who had overstayed his visa was arrested
  • Pine Close, Langley Green, was visited at 6am on Thursday and a 21-year-old Indian male who had overstayed his visa was arrested.
  • Glebe Close, Northgate, was visited at 6:00 on Thursday, where 3 people were arrested. Indian men aged 26 and 36 had both submitted false documents for their previous visa applications and a 47-year-old Filipino man was working in breach of his visa conditions.
  • Colwyn Close, Bewbush, was visited at 6:45 on Friday and a 28-year-old Indian woman who had overstayed her visa was arrested.
  • Southgate Parade was visited at 7:15 on Friday. A 35-year-old Pakistani man had overstayed his visa, a 23-year-old Sri Lankan man was found to be a failed asylum seeker and a 40-year-old Pakistani man was working in breach of his visa conditions. All 3 were arrested.

All those arrested were transferred to immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country at the earliest opportunity.

Our officers also visited an address in Latimer Close, Langley Green, at 5:45 on Thursday where they found a 57-year-old Indian man who had overstayed his visa. This individual left the UK voluntarily on Monday 12 November.

Timothy Reichardt, UK Border Agency said:

'Our officers carry out raids like this across Sussex almost every day.

'We continue to gather intelligence about people who remain in the UK in breach of their visa conditions and we are taking action against those not entitled to be here.

'My message to those who have no right to be in the UK is that you must leave the country. If you refuse, we will enforce your removal.'


Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit our Preventing illegal working pages, or they can call the agency's employers helpline on 0300 123 4699.