Illegal worker costs dear

3:07pm Sunday 11th May 2008

A Narberth takeaway has been issued with the town's first civil penalty notice for employing an illegal worker after a failed asylum seeker was found working there.

Acting on intelligence, a team from the UK Border Agency's surrounded Narberth Kebab House, on Market Street, and checked the documents of staff.

A 35-year-old man from Turkey, who had failed to leave the UK after his claim for asylum was unsuccessful, was arrested and taken to Haverfordwest police station. He is now in immigration detention and is due to be removed from the UK in the coming weeks.

Immigration officers issued the owner of the takeaway with an on-the-spot notice, warning he may receive a civil penalty for employing illegal workers.

The owner has 28 days to provide evidence that the correct checks were carried out to employ the worker or face a fine of up to £10,000.

The notice is the first to be handed out in the Narberth area since the UK Government introduced the measures on February 29th.

Jane Farleigh, Regional director of the UK Border Agency in Wales and the South West, said: "The new civil penalties mean we can crack down more effectively on business owners who fail to carry out the proper checks when employing workers from outside Europe.

"We will not hesitate to use our new powers to penalise employers who we believe may be breaking immigration rules."

She added: "Our operations are based on intelligence received from the police, other Government departments and also from members of the public.

"We are determined to put a stop to the problem of illegal working wherever we find it and we appeal to the public to contact us where they are concerned it is taking place in their area."

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Wales can contact the UK Border Agency on 029 2092 4727.

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