Six arrested at five popular Scots restaurants after illegal worker blitz
All five premises were also issued with Civil Penalty Referral Notices.
RESTAURANT RAIDS Six arrested at five popular Scots restaurants after illegal worker blitz
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SIX workers have been arrested in raids on five restaurants targeting illegal immigrants in Scotland.
The crackdown on three posh eateries and two takeaways comes as part of the UK Government's pledge to restore the immigration system and nail unscrupulous employers.
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Malaga Tapas in Bearsden
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An arrest at the Malletsheugh in Newton Mearns
Two Malaga Tapas bars - one on Glasgow's plush West End and one in leafy Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire - were hit along with stylish Indian The Malletsheugh in posh Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire.
The Marmaris in East Kilbride and Lamego's in Blantyre, both Lanarkshire were also targeted on Thursday evening.
All five premises were also issued with Civil Penalty Referral Notices and the employers could face a fine if found liable.
Four men and two women were arrested for having no Right to Work in the UK and overstaying their visas.
The individuals were of Indian, Iraqi, Columbian, Spanish and Portuguese nationalities.
Five of those arrested have been placed on strict immigration bail and are required to report regularly to the Home Office.
One individual has been detained pending deportation from the UK.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said: 'Illegal working will not be tolerated under this government.
"That's why we are clamping down on those who abuse our system and going after organised criminals who sell false promises to migrants about their ability to live and work in the UK.
'This operation is just one example of the continuous targeted action we're taking right across the UK to hold rogue employers accountable and finally restore fairness and integrity to our immigration system.'
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HM Inspector Lynne Davidson said: 'There is no excuse for ignoring employment and immigration rules and those who do should be in no doubt that they will face the full consequences.
'Businesses have a legal requirement to carry out Right to Work checks on employees and we will continue to pursue unscrupulous employers and those who break immigration laws.'
Ramping up illegal working enforcement activity forms a key part of the Home Office's drive to restore order to the immigration system under the Government's Plan for Change.
In many cases, individuals travelling to the UK illegally are sold a lie by smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in the UK, when in reality they will often face squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours, with the threat of arrest and removal if they are caught working illegally.
In the latest move to restore order to the asylum and immigration system, the government is also introducing tough new laws to clamp down on illegal working by extending Right to Work checks on those hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery, beauty salons and courier services.
The new measures, which passed report stage in the House of Commons earlier this week, come alongside a ramp-up of operational action by Immigration Enforcement teams, who since July have carried out 6,784 illegal working visits to premises and made 4,779 arrests – an increase of 40% and 42% compared to the same period 12 months ago. In that time, 1,508 civil penalty notices have been issued.
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