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Illegal workers found at Surrey restaurant
19 August 2013
A restaurant in Woking is facing a heavy financial fine after illegal workers from Albania were arrested following our enforcement operation.
Acting on intelligence, immigration enforcement officers visited Bellinis Restaurant, Hermitage Road, Woking, at 12.50pm on Friday 16 August. Individuals were questioned to check if they had the right to be in the UK.
They arrested 2 women, aged 19 and 22, and a 30-year-old man who had all entered the country illegally. Our officers also encountered a 33-year-old man who did not have the right to work in the UK.
The 3 arrested were transferred to immigration detention pending their removal from the UK. The 33-year-old's case is under consideration and he will also face removal from the country if found to have no right to be in the UK.
The business was served a notice warning that a fine of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out. This is a potential total of £40,000.
Paul Smith, head of Immigration Enforcement team in the Thames Valley and Surrey, Home Office said:
'Illegal working is not a victimless crime. It defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities.
'We are sending a clear message to employers who choose to use illegal labour: we will find you and you will pay a heavy penalty. We will not allow the growth of a shadow economy for illegal migrants.
'We are happy to work with businesses 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.'
Measures to toughen fines against rogue businesses employing illegal migrants, while cutting red tape for legitimate employers, have been unveiled by the Government.
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.
Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.