Illegal workers arrested at Thetford restaurant

The owner of a Thetford curry house has been warned he faces a substantial fine after being caught employing two illegal workers as part of a county-wide clampdown by the UK Border Agency.

The owner of a Thetford curry house has been warned he faces a substantial fine after being caught employing two illegal workers as part of a county-wide clampdown by the UK Border Agency.

Officers conducted a visit to the Nimmi Authentic Indian Cuisine restaurant in White Hart Street last night .

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

Arrangements are now being made for both the Bangladeshi men - a 30-year-old illegal entrant and a 19-year-old visa overstayer - 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 faces a potential fine of up to �20,000 - unless it can prove that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.

Inspector Colin Daulby, of the local immigration team in Norfolk, 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.”