UK: Raids on 3 Indian restaurants

LONDON: Britain's immigration officials raided three Indian restaurants and a Chinese takeaway joint in north England and arrested seven illegal migrants from Bangladesh, China and India working there.

Officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) ― responsible for securing the UK borders, controlling migrations and enforcing immigrations and customs rules ― visited a string of restaurants and takeaways after getting tip-offs about illegal immigrants being employed there.

In a raid on the Rajpooth Indian Restaurant, in Durham City, three Bangladeshi men were found working illegally. Also, two illegal migrants from China were arrested from the 'May Flower Chinese Takeaway' joint.

The owners of the two hotels were fined 50,000 pounds for employing people who did not have the right to work in the UK.

The UKBA authorities also raided 'Gill's Chip Shop' in Wallsend and arrested an Indian who was working illegally there.

The team, from UKBA's Tyne enforcement unit, also raided the Memories of India restaurant in County Durham and arrested two Bangladeshi men.

"We are working hard to pull the plug on the illegal jobs which lure illegal immigrants to come to the UK in the first place," said UKBA North East operations director Steve Lamb.

"Illegal working is unfair on honest employers who recruit staff with the right to work in the UK and who pay them a proper salary. Employers who don't play by the rules face fines and could potentially end up in jail", he added

UKBA has also recently started naming on its website employers who have been fined under the new rules.