Immigration raid in Crumlin

Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited Farley House, in the Main Street, Crumlin, at 6pm last Thursday.

Two people were arrested for immigration offences, a 40-year-old Chinese woman and a 23-year-old Chinese man.

Both are currently in Home Office detention while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Illegal working is not victimless.

“It defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities.

“Our enforcement visits are intelligence-led and timed to maximise their effectiveness.

“We would urge members of the public with information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

The business was served with a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless proof is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out. This is a potential total of £40,000.

Arrests are carried out by trained immigration officers who carry out operations at businesses and private addresses, acting on intelligence received from the public and other sources. All intelligence is protected.

On Tuesday, March 26 the Home Secretary announced that the UK Border Agency would be replaced by two new immigration commands within the Home Office.

An immigration and visa service and an immigration law enforcement organisation. These changes came into effect on Monday, April 1 2013.

For all the latest Home Office news visit www.gov.uk/home-office. You can follow the Home Office on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice.

The Home Office is a member of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF).

The OCTF was established in 2000 to provide strategic direction for a multi-agency approach to tackling organised crime.

Chaired by Justice Minister David Ford, the Task Force brings together representatives from Government, law enforcement and other agencies. It is a forum where agencies can discuss problems, share information and agree priorities. For more information log onto www.octf.gov.uk.