Arrests after immigration raids at Freddie’s Chicken & Pizza and Bollywood Lounge in Wakefield

Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited both businesses last night (Thursday).

Staff at both businesses were questioned to check if they had the right to be in the United Kingdom.

At Freddie’s Chicken & Pizza, on Westgate End, two Pakistani men, aged 22 and 25, were found have overstayed their visas.

And at Bollywood Lounge, on Smyth Street, a 44-year-old Bangladeshi man was also found to have overstayed his visa.

All three men were arrested.

The 25-year-old has been detained pending his removal from the country.

The other two men have been released on immigration bail and will have to report to the Home Office while their cases are progressed.

A Home Office spokesman said both Freddie’s Chicken and Bollywood Lounge could face a financial penalty of up to £20,000 for each illegal worker found unless the owners can prove that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Assistant Director Anita Bailey, from the Yorkshire & Humber Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: “These arrests are a clear warning to those in West Yorkshire abusing our immigration laws. There will be no let up in our work to arrest, detain and remove you from the UK.

“I would urge anyone with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

Information to help employers carry out checks to prevent illegal working can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties.

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