DHAKA: Six alleged illegal workers from Bangladesh have been arrested after UK Border Agency raids in Ullapool and Skye.

Home Office immigration enforcement officers along with officers from Police Scotland visited Essence of India, Ullapool, Taste of India, Kyleakin, and Prince of India, Portree, on Thursday after receiving intelligence.

Individuals were questioned to check if they had the right to be in the UK.

At Essence of India, which was visited at 5.30pm, they arrested a 42-year-old man who had entered the country illegally.

Two men were arrested at Taste of India, also visited at 5.30pm. The men were aged 42 and 57 who had both overstayed their visas.

At Prince of India, which was visited at 6.15pm, officers arrested three men. Two, aged 32 and 36, had overstayed their visas while a 35-year-old had obtained leave to remain by deception.

In a statement the Home Office said: “All those arrested were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the country apart from the 42-year-old arrested at Taste of India who was placed on immigration bail.

“The businesses were served notices warning that a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out. “This is a potential total of £10,000 for Essence of India, £20,000 for Taste of India and £30,000 for Prince of India.”

The UK Government published the Immigration Bill on October 10, which carries a number of proposals to clamp down on illegal working and rogue employers. These include potentially doubling the maximum penalty for those using illegal labour to £20,000 and making it easier to enforce unpaid debts in the civil courts.

The Government is also planning to simplify the right to work checks to make it easier for compliant employers to fulfil their responsibilities.

Source: news.stv.tv
BDST:  0858HRS, OCT 19, 2013
RS/MZR