Three illegal workers found at BIdeford restaurant

UK Border Agency officers targeting illegal working at a restaurant in Bideford found that every member of staff on duty was an immigration offender. Officers went to the Honeymoon restaurant in Bridgeland Street, at about 2.10pm on Tuesday, December 1,

UK Border Agency officers targeting illegal working at a restaurant in Bideford found that every member of staff on duty was an immigration offender.

Officers went to the Honeymoon restaurant in Bridgeland Street, at about 2.10pm on Tuesday, December 1, as part of an ongoing crackdown targeting illegal working in the South West.

After the immigration status of staff was checked, two Chinese men and a Chinese woman were found to have no legal right to be employed in the UK.

One of the men and the woman were arrested and taken to Barnstaple police station for further questioning while the other Chinese man was dealt with at the scene.

All must now report regularly to the UK Border Agency while steps are taken to remove them from the country or any outstanding immigration applications are considered.

The three offenders were the only members of staff on duty at the restaurant at the time of the intelligence-led operation.

The business has been served with a Notice of Potential Liability for employing illegal workers.

If the employers are unable to provide evidence that legally-required checks were carried out before giving the workers jobs - such as asking for a passport or another Home Office document - they will face a fine of up to �10,000 for each illegal worker.

Jane Farleigh, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Wales and South West, said: "We are committed to tracking down people who have no right to live or work in the UK and raids such as this are part of an ongoing crackdown to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants.

"Illegal working has a serious impact on communities, taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work and undercutting law-abiding businesses.

"We carry out numerous intelligence-led visits to businesses each week across the South West and we appeal for information from the public so we can crack down further on those who are flouting the law.

"This year alone, we've issued fines worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to dozens of businesses across the South West."

The raid coincides with a large-scale UK Border Agency advertising campaign warning bosses of the heavy fines if caught employing illegal workers.

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Devon can contact the UK Border Agency on (01752) 275161.