Men arrested after immigration officers visit curry houses

IMMIGRATION officers visited a curry house and arrested a worker who was living in the UK illegally.

Acting on intelligence, officers went to Pasha Restaurant, in London Road, Cowplain.

Staff were questioned to establish whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

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A 27-year-old man was arrested. He was found to have overstayed his Tier 4 student visa.

Officers also visited Masala Indian Restaurant and Takeaway, in Meeting House Lane, Ringwood.

Two men were arrested.

One, aged 27, had overstayed his Tier 4 student visa, while the other, aged 29, was found to have entered the country illegally.

The three arrested men were transferred to immigration detention, pending removal from the UK.

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The businesses were served notices warning that financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless they can demonstrate that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

If proof is not provided, this is a potential total of up to £60,000 for Masala and £20,000 for Pasha.

The arrests were made last Friday evening.

Carla Johnson, head of the South Central Immigration Enforcement team, said: ‘We take robust action against employers which choose to use illegal labour. Illegal working is not victimless and can involve the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable people.’