Restaurant Workers Arrested In Immigration Probe

Five restaurants could be facing a total of £90,000 in fines following a series of raids by Border officers in Brighton and Hove.

Acting on intelligence, officers carried out the visits on Friday 26 October where they questioned staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK.

Nine illegal workers were arrested at different locations in Brighton and Hove. An Algerian male, aged 33 who had overstayed his visa was arrested at Casa Della Pizza, North Street, Brighton.

Two Bangladeshi men - a 24-year-old who was working in breach of his student visa and a 26-year-old had over-stayed his visa were arrested at A Brasserie Fish & Grill, Waterfront, Brighton Marina. A Chinese male who had entered the country illegally was arrested at the Lucky Star Chinese Take Away, Sackville Road, Hove.

Three Chinese men were arrested at the Sichuan Garden, Ditchling Road, Brighton - a 26-year-old and 35-year-old who had both entered the country illegally and a 23-year-old who had overstayed his visa. Finally, 2 Bangladeshi men were arrested at the Ladies Mile Tandoori, Ladies Mile Road, Brighton - a 32-year-old who had entered the country illegally and a 27-year-old who had overstayed his visa.

Those arrested are currently in immigration detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country at the earliest opportunity.

All the employers were served a notice warning a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided to us that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out.

Timothy Reichardt, UK Border Agency, said: "Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, undermining legitimate businesses and taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.

"More visits like this are being planned for Sussex and whilst we're happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be done on staff, those who do break the law should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines."

(GK)