SEVEN people, including five Indonesian nationals, have been arrested following an immigration raid on a restaurant in Wokingham.
Officers from the Home Office stormed the Szechuan Inn in Bean Oak Road at around 6.40pm on Wednesday.
The seven arrested include a 43-year-old man who was working in breach of his multi-visit visa, a 23-year-old and a 30-year-old Indonesian who had overstayed their multi-visit business visas and two women, aged 23 and 25, who had both overstayed their multi-visit visas.
Two Malaysian men, aged 29 and 44, were also arrested after outstaying their six-month visitor entitlement.
All those arrested were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the UK.
Carla Johnson, head of the South Central Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said:“There will be no slow down in our efforts to tackle illegal working in Berkshire. Using illegal labour is not a victimless crime. It defrauds the treasury of much needed funds, undercuts businesses who ply an honest trade and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities.
“There are simple checks employers can carry out to ensure their employees have the right to work in the UK. Those who choose to ignore the rules will face the consequences.
“I would urge people with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to contact us.”
The business was served a notice warning that financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker arrested will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.
If proof is not provided this is a potential total of up to £140,000.
