Sandwich factory faces fine of £110,000
10 August 2009
Eleven illegal workers have been arrested after a UK Border Agency raid on sandwich factory in Hayes.
Following an intelligence tip-off, UKBA immigration officers, supported by police colleagues, swooped on Fresh’n'Fast Quality Ltd on the Abenglen Industrial Estate on the morning of Thursday 30 July, questioning everyone inside and checking to see if they were entitled to work in the United Kingdom.
Four men and seven women all aged between 22 and 41 were arrested for a variety of immigration offences, including working in breach of visa conditions, entering the United Kingdom illegally, and over-staying on visas. All now face removal from the country.
The owners of Fresh’n'Fast were served with a Notice of Potential Liability, telling them they face a possible fine of up to £110,000 unless they can prove the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on their employees.
Inspector Dick Stratton of the UK Border Agency said:
‘We’re committed to removing people who have no right to be in the UK – and to taking tough action against employers who use and exploit illegal workers.
‘As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants. This operation should serve as a warning for those who break the law.’
Civil penalties for businesses who fail to carry out the proper checks when employing migrant workers from outside Europe were introduced by the Government in February 2008, allowing fines of up to £10,000 per illegal employee.
The UK Border Agency has recently started naming on its website employers who have been fined under the new rules.
If you are an employer and you are unsure of the steps you must take to avoid employing illegal workers, you can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or call the UK Border Agency employers’ helpline on 0845 010 6677.
Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured