Illegal workers found in raids at Swindon businesses

21 Jan 2011 11:33 AM

Four illegal workers have been caught by the UK Border Agency following a series of raids at two car washes and a restaurant in Swindon.

Acting on intelligence, immigration officers visited the hand car wash located in the car park of a Sainsbury's store on Oxford Road at 3.30pm Tuesday 18 January.

After the immigration status of each employee was checked, the UK Border Agency discovered that an Iranian man who entered the country illegally and an Iraqi failed asylum seeker where both working without the legal right to do so.

The Iranian man is currently being held in custody at Gable Cross police station while the UK Border Agency looks to deport him. The Iraqi man was placed on immigration bail and must report weekly to a local police station while arrangements are made for his removal.

A second hand car wash - on Bridge End Road - was raided and an Iraqi failed asylum seeker found working illegally.

He has been placed on immigration bail while the UK Border Agency takes steps to remove him from the country.

Finally, officers went to New Roz, Manchester Road, where a third Iraqi failed asylum seeker was found working. He was also placed on immigration bail.

Kenny Chapman, who heads the UK Border Agency's local immigration team for the South West, said:

'Employers of illegal immigrants can be hit with big fines - up to £10,000 per person.

'Through operations like this we are sending a simple message to anyone who employs illegal workers in Wiltshire - more raids are planned and you will be caught.

'It is the legal responsibility of all employers to check that staff have the right to work in the UK.'

The two hand car washes and New Roz will each be issued with a penalty notice for employing the illegal workers.

If the employers cannot prove that the correct right-to-work checks - such as asking for a passport or work permit - were carried out, a fine of up to £10,000 will be imposed for each illegal worker.

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on thousands of companies which fail to carry out the necessary right-to-work checks on their staff.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said:

'The UK Border Agency last year carried out two major enforcement campaigns to crack down on immigration crime, detaining, prosecuting and removing people and gangs who have been abusing the system through sham marriages, illegal working, people smuggling and document fraud.

'Our proposals to tackle abuse by foreign nationals using student visas to gain work in the UK alongside new plans to toughen up marriage and family routes into the country will ensure that we bring net migration down to the tens of thousands.'

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/advice-for-employers or they 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 www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime.