UK cracks down on illegal immigrants

Victoria Taylor

UK: Businesses were warned they face massive fines if they hire illegal immigrants - as five KFC restaurants were raided.

Immigration officials swooped on the fast-food outlets across South Hampshire, including two in Portsmouth.

A 37-year-old Sri Lankan was found to be working illegally at the KFC in Havant Road, Drayton, while a worker at the franchise in Binnacle Way, North Harbour, was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

The Sri Lankan at the Drayton KFC was not arrested as he had an immigration application pending.

But the manager of the branch was given a Notice of Potential Liability and could face a hefty fine if found to have knowingly employed an illegal immigrant. Three other KFCs were raided - at Hedge End Retail Park; Leigh Road in Eastleigh; and West End Road in West End, Southampton - with a total of five people being arrested for immigration offences.

Electrician John Morey, 41, of Deerhurst Crescent, Paulsgrove, was eating his KFC takeaway in his works van when officers surged into the Hedge End restaurant.

A total of 33 immigration officers and police officers were involved in the five raids which took place simultaneously at 1pm.

Officers were looking for Sri Lankan and Indian nationals working illegally in the country, and had received a tip-off that some had been employed at KFC outlets.

Paperwork was removed from the offices and members of staff questioned.

Five men from Sri Lanka and one from India, aged between 27 and 39, were all arrested over immigration offences.

He said: “I just stopped for lunch. I saw everyone getting out of their cars.” “I think if there are illegal immigrants working there they should be carrying out raids.”

Lorna Chamberlain, acting chief immigration officer at the Portsmouth branch of the UK Border Agency, said: “Intelligence has been received that there are Sri Lankan and Indian immigrants working illegally at KFC franchises in Hampshire.” Hugh Ind, area director for the UK Border Agency, said: “Employers who don’t make proper checks are going to be subjected to civil penalties of up to Pounds 10,000.

“We’re cracking down on irresponsible employers who are employing people who shouldn’t be here and who haven’t the right to be here.”

KFC spokeswoman Jo Livingston said: “We have strict employment practices across all of our stores including franchise-owned outlets.

“We take all allegations regarding a breach of these practices very seriously and are assisting the authorities with their enquiries.” The News

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