Scottish restaurant faces fines of £90,000 after illegal workers found

12th August 2010, 11:56am

Seven immigration offenders have been arrested following a UK Border Agency raid on a restaurant in West Lothian.

During the operation three of the staff tried to escape by running out the back of the restaurant but were caught and arrested by officers covering the exits.

The enforcement operation was part of a nationwide summer campaign to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.

Acting on information received, officers visited The New Royal Regent Cantonese Restaurant, on Armadale Road, Whitburn on Friday 6th August, and questioned staff to ensure they had the right to work in the UK.

Of the 15 employees who were on site at the time of the visit, five males and two female Chinese nationals were arrested for immigration offences and two others had no permission to work.

The UK Border Agency is making arrangements for their removal from the country.

The New Royal Regent Cantonese Restaurant has been issued with a penalty notice which means they could be fined up to £90,000, unless bosses can prove they carried out the correct right-to-work checks on their employees.

Damian Green, the immigration minister, said: "Illegal immigration puts untold pressure on public services at a time when this country cannot afford to support people not entitled to it. That's why the UK Border Agency is working day in, day out to cut out the routes - such as sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised traffickers - being used by foreign nationals to try and stay in the UK permanently."

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• 22 Oct 2010 - ASIAN AND ORIENTAL RESTAURANTS CAN TACKLE IMMIGRATION CAP WITH NEW APPRENTICESHIPS
• 24 Sep 2010 - Nominations begin for The Scottish Restaurant Awards 2011

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