A restaurant in Thame is facing a potential fine of up to £20,000 following an operation by Home Office immigration enforcement officers last weekend.
The Star and Garter Pub and restaurant in Thame
Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Star and Garter, in Wellington Street, at 8.15pm on Wednesday, October 2. Individuals were questioned to check if they had the right to be in the UK. Two Bangladeshi men, one, aged 20, was working in breach of his visa conditions, the other, aged 25, having overstayed his visa, were arrested.
The 20-year-old was transferred to immigration detention pending his removal from the country. The other man was placed on immigration bail while his case is progressed. He too faces removal from the country if found to have no leave to remain.
A spokesperson for the London and South Immigration Enforcement area said: “The restaurant was served a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out. This is a potential total of £20,000.”
These arrests in Thame came just a day before the Government published the new Immigration Bill, which carries a number of proposals to clamp down on illegal working and rogue employers. These include potentially doubling the maximum penalty for those using illegal labour to £20,000 and making it easier to enforce unpaid debts in the civil courts.
The Government has said that it is also planning to simplify the right to work checks to make it easier for compliant employers to fulfil their responsibilities.
Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: “Illegal working encourages illegal immigration, undercuts legitimate businesses and is often associated with exploitation. The existing illegal working regime isn’t simple enough; the penalties have remained the same since 2008 and don’t provide a sufficient deterrent; it is also too easy for companies to evade paying them.
“New legislation will increase the penalties for rogue businesses, make it easier to enforce payment, while also making it easier for legitimate businesses to verify individuals’ right to work.”
Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.
Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visithttp://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
No one from the restaurant was available to comment this afternoon, but we are expecting a response soon from the management.
