UK Immigration News

05 December 2009

A Widnes takeaway faces a possible fine of £40,000 after officers from the UK Border Agency discovered four staff with no legal right to work in the UK.

Officers visited The River Queen, at 25 Lower Appleton Road, Widnes, on Wednesday evening 2 December as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal working

The officers found three Chinese men and one Chinese woman aged between 18 and 40. Checks were made which revealed that they had no right to work in the UK and arrangements are now being made for their removal.

The Widnes based business now faces fines of up to £10,000 per illegal worker, £40,000 in total.

Jo Liddy, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in the North West, said

'We will not tolerate illegal working, in Widnes or anywhere else - it undercuts British wages and exploits vulnerable workers. As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants. That's why we have to put a stop to employers who don't play by the rules.

'These arrests are part of an ongoing clamp down on illegal working in Cheshire to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants. Anyone in Cheshire who takes on a foreign national without permission to work in the UK is breaking the law, undermining law abiding businesses and faces a big fine.

'There are strict rules about which foreign nationals can get a job in the UK and businesses have a clear responsibility to carry out the right checks.'