RESTAURANT bosses face a substantial fine after being caught employing two illegal workers as part of a county-wide clampdown by border officials.

Laurence Cawley

RESTAURANT bosses face a substantial fine after being caught employing two illegal workers as part of a county-wide clampdown by border officials.

Officers from the UK Border Agency swept on the Nimmi Authentic Indian Cuisine in White Hart Street in Thetford last night.

Immigration checks revealed two members of staff did not have the necessary permission to work in the UK.

Arrangements are now being made for the Bangladeshi men - a 30-year-old illegal entrant and a 19-year-old man who has overstayed the amount of time allowed in the UK by his visa - to be removed from the UK as soon as possible.

The operation coincides with a large-scale advertising campaign warning bosses of the heavy fines they face if caught employing illegal foreign labour.

Nimmi Authentic Indian Cuisine now faces a fine of up to �20,000 - �10,000 per employee - unless it can prove that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.

Inspector Colin Daulby, of the local immigration team, said: “These arrests are part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal working in Norfolk to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants.

“Anyone in the county who takes on a foreign national without permission to work in the UK is breaking the law, undermining law abiding businesses and faces a big fine.

“This year alone, we've issued fines worth approximately �230,000 to more than 25 businesses in the county.

“There are strict rules about which foreign nationals can get a job in the UK and businesses have a clear responsibility to carry out the right checks.”

A fine of up to �10,000 per worker can be imposed for every illegal worker found at a business. Guidance for employers on preventing illegal working can be found on the UK Border Agency website, www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employingmigrants or by calling the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0845 010 6677.