RAID: the Chinese takeaway in Kesh
A 55-year-old Chinese man discovered in a takeaway kitchen in Kesh has been arrested after checks revealed he was a failed asylum seeker without the right to work in the UK.
Immigration officers acting on intelligence visited Lotus Garden Chinese takeaway on Main Street, Kesh, on Saturday evening and questioned staff to establish whether they had the right to live and work in the UK and then arrested the Chinese national. He has been detained while steps are taken to remove him from the country.
The Kesh takeaway has been been served a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 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.
The arrest was part of joint operations in Fermanagh and Belfast, with a total of ten people arrested on illegal immigration charges.
Mike Golden, from the Immigration Enforcement Team said: “As these operations demonstrate, we are working hard to arrest and remove those who abuse the UK’s immigration system.
“Using illegal labour is not a victimless crime. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts businesses who ply an honest trade and deprives legitimate job seekers 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.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere