Failed asylum seekers cornered as Immigration team raid Corringham kebab shop

TWO Essex businesses are facing potential £60,000 penalties after immigration offenders were found working at their premises.

In intelligence led operations, Immigration Enforcement officers visited Artemis Kebab in Lampits Hill, Corringham, and Spice King in High Street, Billericay, yesterday (24 January) afternoon.

Both business were served referral notices in relation to three illegal workers. The notices warn that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker will be imposed unless the employers 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.

Richard Lederle, Assistant Director for Immigration Enforcement in the South East, said:

“Those who use and exploit illegal workers face severe financial penalties.

“We are happy to work with businesses to ensure the right pre-employment checks are carried out, but those intent on operating outside the law will be found and will be punished.

“Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.

“All of our operations are intelligence led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us.”

Artemis Kebab was visited at 3.38pm where immigration checks found three Turkish members of staff were working without permission. One of the men, a 28-year-old failed asylum seeker, has been detained pending his removal from the UK. The others, a 26-year-old with an outstanding immigration application that does not allow him to work and a 22-year-old failed asylum seeker, must report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are progressed.

A fourth immigration offender, who was not working, was also arrested at the premises. The 33-year-old Turkish national was found to be a failed asylum seeker and must report regularly to the Home Office while his case is dealt with.

Spice King was visited at 5.45pm. As officers arrived a man attempted to run from the premises, but was detained by officers. Immigration checks subsequently identified him as a 37-year-old Bangladeshi national who had overstayed his student visa. He has been detained pending his removal from the UK.

Officers also found approximately £6,000 in suspected illegal earnings in the 37-year-old’s accommodation. This has been detained under the Proceeds of Crime Act and will be the subject of future forfeiture proceedings, which if successful, will see the money returned to the public purse.

Two further illegal workers from Bangladesh were identified at the business. A 32-year-old man who had sought leave to remain in the UK by deception has been detained pending his removal from the UK. A 29-year-old man, who has an ongoing immigration application which does not permit him to work, was escorted from the premises.

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Information to help employers carry out checks to prevent illegal working can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties

It includes a quick answer right-to-work tool to help employers check if someone has the right to work in the UK.