Illegal workers found in raid on restaurant

Buy photos » Two illegal workers were found during a raid at Cafe Mela. Picture by Nick Hands 0312028NHR

AN INDIAN restaurant could face a fine of up to £20,000 following a raid by the UK Border Agency.

Officers paid an unexpected visit to Cafe Mela on Foregate Street on Wednesday, January 11 and discovered two illegal workers.

Both men were from Bangladesh with the one having overstayed his visa and he was arrested and taken into custody.

The other worker was escorted off the premises after it was discovered he is currently on immigration bail.

Officers are now taking action to remove both illegal workers from the country as soon as possible.

The restaurant could be fined up to £20,000 unless it can prove it took sufficient steps to confirm the immigration status of the two men, such as checking passports.

But Cafe Mela manager Manirul Haque said the business would never knowingly employ illegal workers.

“The one guy lied to us all the way through. He had a National Insurance card, a driving licence and a passport and it all seemed official,” he said.

Mr Haque added the other man had only been on the premises for a couple of hours helping out in an emergency when his chef had to go to hospital.

Brian Maynard Rollings, from the UK Border Agency’s West Mercia local immigration team, said: “We are cracking down on companies that employ illegal workers and fail to carry out proper checks on passports and other identity documents.

“Any business that takes on a foreign national without permission to work is breaking the law and faces a heavy fine and possible prosecution.”

Employers can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or call 0300 123 4699 for advice on how to avoid employing illegal workers.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.