Illegal worker arrested at Sunderland takeaway

A Wearside business is facing a £20,000 fine for employing an illegal member of staff.
Cinnamon Kitchen in Sea Road.Cinnamon Kitchen in Sea Road.
Cinnamon Kitchen in Sea Road.

Immigration Enforcement officers visited Cinnamon Kitchen in Sea Road and found an immigration offender from Bangladesh working there.

The 32-year-old man was arrested after immigration checks revealed he had overstayed his working holiday maker visa.

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The business was served a civil penalty referral notice in relation to illegal workers, warning a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out.

This involves seeing a a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

Assistant Director Phillipa Russell, head of the North East and Cumbria Immigration Enforcement team, said: "We take robust action against employers who choose to flout the rules.

"Using illegal labour is not victimless. It defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.

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“All of our operations are intelligence led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us.”

Information to help employers carry out checks to prevent illegal working can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties. It includes a new quick answer right-to-work tool to help employers check if someone has the right to work in the UK.

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.