Immigration officers swoop on Bursledon restaurant
Sian Davies
Daily Echo
12:27pm Tuesday 16th December 2008
FOUR people were arrested at a popular Chinese restaurant in a crackdown on illegal immigrants.
The UK Border Agency led the operation at the Riverside restaurant in Bursledon.
Immigration officers, wearing stab vests surrounded restaurant in Bridge Road and sealed all exits.
Following the raid all those inside the restaurant were questioned and their identity documents checked.
It was found that four Chinese men had been employed illegally.
Three have been released on immigration bail while proceedings are started to remove them from the UK. A fourth remains in custody pending his removal.
The owner of the business was issued with an on-the-spot penalty notice and may now face a fine of up to 10,000 for each illegal worker employed.
UK Border Agency area director Hugh Ind said: As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants.
Thats why we have to put a stop to employers who dont play by the rules.
These jobs provide a pull factor for illegal migrants and they can lead to major abuses of the immigrants themselves and see lawabiding businesses being undercut by rule-breaking employers.
