Dover immigration offender removed from the UK

An immigration offender has been removed from the country following a UK Border Agency raid at the New Moonflower restaurant in Dover.

A 30-year-old man from Malaysia was removed from the UK on 16 January, ten days after officers from the agency visited the restaurant on High Street on 6 January.

Officers had arrested four people at the restaurant who were in the UK illegally, two women from China aged 21 and 27, a 39-year-old man from China, and the 30-year-old man from Malaysia.

The remaining three, along with a fifth immigration offender a 23-year-old woman from China encountered at the restaurant, have been placed on immigration bail and must report regularly to the UK Border Agency while arrangements are made to remove them from the UK.

Three of the immigration offenders were working illegally and the New Moonflower now faces a potential fine of up to £30,000 if the employers cannot prove that the correct right-to-work checks - such as asking for a passport or work permit - were carried out.

Karyn Dunning, who heads the UK Border Agency's local immigration team for Kent said: "We are committed to removing people who have no right to be in the UK and are cracking down on immigration abuse and will continue to carry out regular raids.

"We urge members of the public to get in touch with us if they have information about suspected illegal immigrants or companies that are employing illegal workers."

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on thousands of companies which fail to carry out the necessary right-to-work checks on their staff. Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can call the UK Border Agency's Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Kent can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously.