The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Three arrests in takeaway raid
MONTROSE: Chinese men detained for deportation
Illegal workers in Montrose have been arrested and their employer is facing a potential £60,000 fine after an immigration raid.
Immigration enforcement officers swooped on the Yummy Chinese takeaway on Montrose High Street in an“intelligenceled” operation around 5.30 pm on wednesday.
Three Chinese men, aged 37, 41 and 54, who had entered the country illegally were arrested. Officials said yesterday they will remain detained while “steps are taken to remove them from the UK”.
Assistant director Ian Tyldesley, head of the Scotland immigration enforcement team, said: “Illegal working is not victimless, it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the public purse.”
The owners of the Yummy takeaway refused to comment.
Shop owners in Montrose have reacted with shock after three illegal immigrants were found working for a High Street takeaway.
The Yummy Chinese takeaway was raided by immigration enforcement officers in an intelligence-led operation at around 5.30pm on Wednesday.
Three Chinese men, aged 37, 41 and 54, were found to have entered the country illegally and were arrested, while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.
Yummy was served a referral notice in relation to the three illegal workers, warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-towork document checks were carried out.
These include seeing a passport
“We are happy to work with businesses to explain the simple pre-employment checks needed to establish a person’s right to work in the UK... IAN TYLDESLEY
or Home Office document confirming permission to work.
Fellow traders in Montrose had mixed reactions to the raid.
A High Street business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “This is nothing new for Montrose.
“Other restaurants in the town have been raided loads of times.
“I’ve been here five years and in that time, there’s been about one raid a year.
“It’s a bit annoying that it happens so often, but it is what it is.”
Other traders reacted with shock at the news, saying they had no idea about the illegal workers and that they often got food from the takeaway.
Assistant director Ian Tyldesley, head of the Scotland immigration enforcement team, said: “We are happy to work with businesses to explain the simple pre-employment checks needed to establish a person’s right to work in the UK, but to those who choose to ignore the rules the message is clear – we will find you and you will face a heavy financial penalty.
“Illegal working is not victimless, it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the public purse.
“I urge anyone with specific and detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”
Staff at Yummy declined to comment when the Courier visited.