Indian eateries targeted in UK ‘blitz’ against illegals

Indian restaurants, nail bars, convenience stores and car washes were among the targets of what the Home Office on Monday described as a “UK-wide blitz” on illegal working in the country.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said her department’s Immigration Enforcement teams had a record-breaking January as they descended on 828 premises — a 48 per cent rise compared to the previous January, with arrests surging to 609, and marking a 73 per cent increase from the previous year.

The Home Office said that while its teams respond to illegal working intelligence in all sectors, a significant proportion of last month’s activity took place at restaurants, takeaways and cafes as well as in the food, drink and tobacco industry.

A visit to one Indian restaurant in Humberside, northern England, alone led to seven arrests and four detentions, it noted.

“The immigration rules must be respected and enforced. For far too long, employers have been able to take on and exploit illegal migrants and too many people have been able to arrive and work illegally with no enforcement action ever taken,” said Cooper.