Raids target illegal staff

Four businesses in Blackpool, Poulton and St Annes have also been served with fines of up to £10,000 for employing illegal workers after Home Office investigators raided their premises on Thursday evening.

At Bargain Booze, The Crescent, in St Annes, they arrested a 38-year-old Sri Lankan man who had overstayed his visa.

Later on in Blackpool at Central Wine officers arrested a 36-year-old Indian man who had overstayed his visa and was working illegally.

Following a search of his home in the town, officers questioned his 35-year-old Indian wife who was also arrested after it was found she had no right to remain in the UK. Officers visited two premises on Breck Road, Poulton.

At Saffron Indian Cuisine they arrested two Bangladeshi men aged 25 and 28.

Both men had overstayed their visas and were working illegally. At The Lemon Tree, (above) officers discovered a 26-year-old Bangladeshi man who was working illegally in breach of the conditions of his visa.

All six remain in immigration detention pending removal from the country.

The businesses where the illegal workers were found were handed civil penalty notices.

They will be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Assistant director Colin Berrington, from the Home Office’s North West immigration enforcement team, said: “Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.

“We are happy to work with businesses in Blackpool to let them know what checks need to be made on staff, but those who break the law should know that they will face financial penalties.