Bangladesh Newspaper Archives
'17 Bangladeshi workers held in UK
Thu, Jul 28th, 2011
London, July 27 – Seventeen Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested from restaurants across the UK.
Officers of the UK Border Agency held them on July 21 for staying illegally and for unauthorised intrusion in co-ordinated raids at five restaurants.
Acting on intelligence, officers raided Jaan on Oxford Street of Woodstock, the Café le Raj at Horse Fair of Chipping Norton, Café Le Raj on Reading Road at Henley-on-Thames and Twickenham Tandoori on Church Street in Twickenham, southwest London.
They also conducted operation at Exotica Bengal Cuisine in Lower Street, Hillmorton of Rugby and questioned staff and checked their immigration status.
Of those arrested, two were held from Jaan — one for overstaying his visa and the other for entering the UK illegally.
A third person was found to be working illegally, but wasn't arrested as he had an outstanding application made with the Home Office.
Four were arrested from Café Le Raj in Chipping Norton, two from Café Le Raj in Henley, five from Twickenham Tandoori and four from Rugby.
Employers of the arrested would face fines up to £10,000 for each, unless they can prove to the Home Office that correct right-to-work checks were carried out.
Immigration minister Damian Green said, "These raids show we have stepped up action to tackle serious and organised abuse of our immigration system.
The message is clear – the UK is no longer an easy touch.
"Terry Gibbs, assistant director, head of Oxfordshire local immigration team, UK Border Agency said, "Wherever we find people in the UK illegally, we will seek to remove them.
We also want to send out a strong message to employers.
More raids like this are planned.
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